
Qass 
Book_ 



0^1 



>v(0 






BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



OF 



Whiteside County, 



ILLINOIS. 



e:13. 



A people that take no pride in tlie nohle achievements of remote ancestors 
will never achieve anvthini^ivorthy to he remembered zcith 
pride by remote generations." — Macaulay. 



CHICAGO: 

Till-: S. |. Cl.AKKK rri'.l.lSlilNT, CdMI'ANV, 

litlJIJ. 



I 



'I^iograplu) is the only hue l\btoru."--Clnc^:^oll 

/J 



FROM THE PRESS Ol' W1L8UN, HUMfHRKYfJ A t 
FUUKTH ST., LOtiANdl'UKT, I.NO. 



PREKACB. 




HE greatest of English historians, Macaui-ay, and one of the most 
brilliant writers of the present century, has said : " Tlie history of a 
country is best told in a record of the lives of its people." In con- 
formity with this idea, the Bioguapiiicai. Recoim) has been prepared. 
Instead of going to musty records, and taking therefrom dry statistical 
matter that can be appreciated by but few, our corps of writers have 
gone to the people, the men and women who have, by their enterprise 
and industry, brought this county to a rank second to none among 
those comprising this great and noble State, and from tiieir lips have the story of their life 
struggles. No more interesting or instructive matter could be presented to an intelligent 
public. In this volume will be found a record of many whose lives are worthy the imitation 
of coming generations. It tells how some, commencing life in poverty, by industry and 
economy h;ive accumulated wealth. It tells how others, with limited advantages for securing 
an education, liave become learned men and women, with an influence extending throughout 
the length and lireadth of the land. It tells of men who have risen from the lower walks of 
life to eminence as statesmen, and whose names have become famous. It tells of those in 
every walk in life who have striven to succeed, and records how that success has usually 
crowned their efforts. It tells also of many, very many, who, not seeking the applause of the 
world, have pursued the " even tenor of their way," content to have it said of them, as Christ 
said of the woman performing a deed of mercy — " They nave done what they could." It 
tells how manv, in the pride and strength of young manhood, left the plow and tile anvil, the 
lavv^-er's ofHce and the counting-room, left every trade and profession, and at their country's 
call went forth valiantly " to do or die," and how through their efl'orts the Union was 
restored and jieace once more reigned in the land. In the life of every man and of every 
woman is a lesson that should not be lost upon those who follow after. 

Coming generations will appreciate this volume and preserve it as a sacred treasure, from 
the fact that it contains so much that would never linil its way into public records, and which 
would otherwise be inaccessible. Great care has been taken m the compilation of the work, 
and every opportunity possible given to those represented to insure correctness in what has 
been written ; and the publishers flatter themselves that they give to their readers a work with 
few errors of consequence. In addition to biographical sketches, portraits of a number of 
representative citizens are given. 

The faces of some, and biographical sketches of many, will be missed in this vohune. 
For this the publishers are not to blame. Not having a proper conception of the work, some 
refused to give the information necessary to compile a sketch, while others were indifferent. 
Occasionally -some member of the family would oppose tiie enterprise, and on account of such 
opposition the support of the interested one would be withheld. In a few instances men 
never could be found, though repeated calls were made at their residence or place of business. 



January, lUOO. 



The S. T. Ci-ahke I'ihi.isiiing Co. 



iismE^c. 



PAGE 

Abbott, Alfred N 114 

Ackerman, Charles E 3.54 

Albertson, Samuel 4'21 

Allen, Edwin G 414 

Allen, William E 217 

Allen, William H 510 

Anthony, Frank 248 

Arnett, Lewis C 202 

Ashlins, Edward 453 

Austin, Dennis 95 

Austin, Isaac 86 

Baer, Frank 482 

Baird, James H 153 

Baldwm, Joel M 322 

Barber, Sidney 458 

Bastian, Fred R 208 

Bauni, Edgar G 2fl(i 

Beardsworth, Herbert T 433 

Beeler, John 436 

Bell, James K 250 

Bent, Charles 106 

Besse, John J 510 

Beswick, William A 43 

Bickert,John P 68 

Birt, George W 26 

Bittinger, J. E 264 

Blackmer, William 155 

Blagg, Samuel 505 

Blean, William W 383 

Bogart, Hiram 282 

Booth, Jason C 20 

Bowman, Edmund 154 

Boyd, Hugh A 169 

Boyd, John 214 

Boyd, Peter R 489 

Boynton, Benjamin F 467 

Boynton, Jose|)h H 227 

Breed, Ralph Y 506 

Brewer, Fernando N 444 

Brooks, Benjamin F 206 

Puell, Jewett C 435 



PAGE 

Burr, Caroline H 455 

Burritt, Leverett S ' 60 

Bush, Loren T 12 

Hutman, William 281 

Byam, Abel 5U 

Cabot, Charles W 242 

Card, Martin V 157 

Carney, Michael 384 

Case, Charles LeRoy 333 

Chamberlain, H. G 340 

Clark, John 81 

Cleaveland, Jay 267 

Clendenen, George W 196 

Coats, James 385 

Cole, Caroline B 280 

Cole, Horace B 498 

Coleman, Martin 388 

Collins, Palmer. 407 

Collins, Sherman D 436 

Cook, John Henry 97 

Cooney, John 323 

Covell, Emery D 240 

Cox, Sylvester M. 274 

Crawford, Uavid M 301 

Crosier, Edward I. 219 

Curtis, William E 442 

Dail, Robert 516 

Daniels, Burrell V 55 

Darling, Wilford L 310 

Dauen, Louis ;W5 

Davis, Susanna R 148 

Deets, Margaret W 462 

Delp, Charles l;i3 

Dillon, Lloyd H 292 

Dillon, Moses 475 

Donichy, Robert H 372 

Drain, Thomas A 300 

Dudley, William O 56 

Durward, Andrew S 116 

Durward, Peter T 100 



PAGE 

Eagan, Thomas 47 

Eastin, Thomas L 192 

Eddy, York 469 

Edlund, Jonas 80 

Ege, C. P 408 

Elliott, George T 237 

EUithorpe, Carl S 220 

Ely, George E 178 

Emmons, Lehman L 389 

Entw^histle, John J 38 

Eslinger, John 459 

Farley, Joel W 305 

Farwell, Solomon 278 

Finch, Oliver E 163 

First National Bank 69 

Fitch, Frank E 29 

Fitzgerald. Frank 49 

Forward, William 2.54 

Francis, Isaac 293 

Frank, Theodore 3.53 

Eraser, William .59 

Frost, John .52 

Fuller, John P 492 

Furry, John P 464 

Gage, Edward S 235 

Gait, Edgar H 367 

Garwick, Charles P 400 

Gerdes, Henry E 373 

Gibler, Isaac 508 

Goodenough, George E 66 

Gray, John H 34 

Green, John Gilbert 83 

Green, John H 112 

Greene, Giles 110 

Greene, John J 134 

Gurtisen, Benjamin 209 

Haberer, Andrew K 225 

Hamilton, Charles A 499 

Hamilton, George R 118 



VI 



INDEX. 



PAGE 

Hanks, Stephen B 342 

Hansen, A. M 268 

Hardy, Richard I 62 

Hardy, Winfield J 74 

Harrison, David G 129 

Harrison. Joshua L 427 

Harvey, Samuel C 360 

Heath, Henry D 32 

Heath, Wjlbur D 494 

Hecker, John F 88 

Hein, Henry 514 

Hein, William A 519 

Helms, Henry E 22 

Hendricks, Wesley Y 50 

Hill, Ezra B 171 

Hoak, Ira F. and Orion A 222 

Hodges, Frank 446 

Holbrook, Watson C 188 

Hollinshead, Daniel 10 

Hollinshead, Joshua 501 

Holmquest, Oke 277 

Hoofstitler, Jacob H 313 

Hoover, B. Franklin 85 

Hoover, Henry 139 

Hubbard, James C 516 

Hubbard, Solomon 123 

Huggins, Thomas 504 

Hulett, John W 132 

Hull, Harvey C 490 

Hunter, John M 318 

Jackson, Edmund . 184 

James, Anthony A 329 

James, Robert S 118 

James, Samuel N 79 

Jenks, Henry E 521 

Johnson, Bernard 450 

Kilmer, Elias H 243 

Kirkland, John T 346 

Knight, Charles C 142 

Kohl, John M 230 

Lancaster, Edward 204 

Landis, Henry C 457 

Landis, Henry S 425 

Lane, William 261 

Langdon, Buel A 43 

Langdon, Samuel A 75 

Lathe, Benjamin F 403 

Leahy, James 348 

Lee, Marshall T 136 



I'AGE 

Lehman, Jacob Y 426 

LeFevre, John F 347 

Limerick, John G 442 

Lockheart, Mary R 286 

Longsdon, Charles J 378 

Lubliner, Joseph A 306 

Ludens, Peter M 33 

Lum, Cyrrel A 117 

Lyon, Marcus R 137 

McCalmont, Samuel McKean. .211 

McCarty, Jerry V 476 

McCartney, David 390 

McCauley, James S 352 

McEntire, Ejoe 448 

McGrady, Barney 224 

McKenzie, Marlow C 412 

McMahon, C. C 121 

McNeil, Alexander J 449 

:\IcNeil, Robert 480 

McWhorter, Tyler 288 

McWhorter, William L 470 

Manahan, J. G 451 

Mangan, Erwin J 203 

Mangan, Naomi J 166 

Mangan, Samuel T 168 

Marcellus, Fennimore E 131 

Marfleet, George T 472 

Marvel, Earl E 122 

Matthews, L. E 484 

Matznick, Frederick 430 

Mead,Meril 64 

Meek, Nathan 284 

Meighan, James A 513 

Meins, Harm T 481 

Mensch, John H 507 

Middagh, William H 460 

Miller, Joseph 375 

Milroy, JohnE 432 

M osier, John E 395 

Murphy, Samuel L 47 

Mystic Workers of the World . . 185 

Naniga, Garrett 260 

Needham, George T 303 

Neer, George 512 

Nevitt, Edward H 474 

Noon, Charles, Sr 208 

Noon, Thomas 194 

Norrish, Robert A 25 

Norrish, Robert S 276 

Northern Illinois College 265 

Nowlen, James A 46 



PAGE 

Olmsted, George W 151 

Olson, Oliver D 247 

Onken, John F 358 

Osborne, Andrew J 392 

O'Neil, Francis 394 

Pace, John A 508 

Paddock, George E 183 

Paddock, Orrin 213 

Pape, Noah E 61 

Parker, D. J 387 

Parker, William 429 

Parmenter, Allen E 518 

Parnham, John C 68 

Parrish, Isam S 174 

Patrick, William M 104 

Payne, Edwin W 27- 

Payson, Charles H 461 

Peck, John 330 

Peckham, E. M 517 

Peterson, Christian P 317 

Pittman, Elw^ood J 370 

Pollock, D. J 283 

Pope, Aaron 275 

Pott, Henry 368 

Powell, Clark R 487 

Powers, Warren F 396 

Pratt, James M 364 

Proctor, David G 423 

Proctor, George R 382 

Ramsay, Frank I) 9 

Rapp, Andrew 506 

Reed, Benjamin 321 

Reed, John 376 

Reimers, John J 68 

Rennar, John R 406 

Reynolds, Charles F 51 

Reynolds, J. T 113 

Rice, Lucius E 70 

Richards, Daniel 417 

Richards, William D 13 

Richmond, George P 200 

Riley, John 165 

Riordan, William G 295 

Rishell, Dyson 298 

Robertson, Christian C 94 

Robinson, Thomas, Sr 391 

Royer, C. F 339 

Russell, Charles N 495 

Schwab, John 140 

Scofield, Hull 431 



INDEX. 



I'AGE 

Scotch! )ri)ok, Edward 102 

Scott, John E 437 

Scott, Josiah S 377 

Scoville, James 340 

Suger, Dana B 40 

Shannon, Hugh 470 

Shuler, George F 356 

Simonson, J. H 39 

Skinner, James W 31 

Slayniaker, Leonard A 440 

Slaymaker, William D 520 

Smack, James 413 

Smedley, Ralph 255 

Smith, Adam 181 

Smith, Harlow 456 

Smith, Leander 16 

Smith, Ralph N 205 

Smith, Richard 258 

Snyder, James 177 

Snyder, John H 201 

Spafford, Dwight S 311 

Stoeckle, Leopold 447 

Sturtevant, Charles P 173 

Sturtz, Charles 467 

Taber, William P 350 

Talbott, Oliver 478 

Thomas, Addison P 41 

Thomas, Francis M 92 



I'AGE 

Thomas, Frank B 191 

Thompson, Albert L 350 

Thompson, John R 466 

Thompson, John L 446 

Thompson, Nathan 160 

Thompson, R. A 509 

Thompson, Reuben M 319 

Thompson, Samuel A 424 

Thomsen, Peter 245 

Thomson, William 76 

Tilton, William B 15 

Tinmierman, Frank P 287 

Titus, Abraham B 405 

Tracy, George S 334 

Tuttle, Lauren E 240 

Underbill, Emmett E 304 

Upton, Eli 78 

Upton, George Y 65 

Van Demark, Jacob M 359 

Van Osdel, A. L 232 

Van Osdol, William A 324 

Waite, Cyrus H 150 

Waite, De Witt C 496 

Ward, Henry C 245 

Ward, David W 190 



PAGE 

Warner, John H 228 

Wetzell, Henry 231 

Wheelock, Samuel L 366 

White, Clarence E 262 

White, Sarah M 23 

Wilber, Thomas J 450 

Wickens, James 297 

Wilbur, Jacob D 195 

Williams, Frederick F 87 

Williamson, A. C 275 

Willsey, Ira 158 

Wilson, O. A 349 

Wilson, Robert L *. 124 

Winchell, Jacob J 218 

Winters, Elhanan C 332 

Winters, James M 486 

Wolfcrsperger, Aaron A 257 

Wood, A. D 407 

Wood, Frederick 602 

Woodburn, Charles H 121 

Woodburn, James 120 

Woods, RoUin H 439 

Worman, Thomas J 401 

Wyatt, F.dward 141 

Wyman, V'iana 84 

Young, Adam B 212 

Zschiesche, August 316 




F. D. RAMSAY. 



BIOGRAPHICAL 



HON. FRANK D. RAMSAY. In the 
last half century especially, it is sel- 
dom that one wins prominence in several 
lines. It is the tendency of the age to de- 
vote one's entire energies to a special line, 
continually working upward and concen- 
trating his efforts toward accomplishing a 
desired end; yet in the case of Judge Ram- 
say it is demonstrated that an exalted posi- 
tion may be reached in more than one line 
of action. He is an eminent jurist, an able 
judge and a leader in political circles. 

The Judge was born in Prophetstown, 
Whiteside county, September 27, 1846, a 
son of Luther B. and Caroline M. (Smith) 
Ramsay. The father was born in Deer- 
field, Oneida county, New York, and first 
came to Whiteside county with Leonard 
Woodworth as one of the engineers in the 
construction of the canal around the rapids 
above Rock Falls. During the six months 
spent here, he made a claim in what is now 
Hume township. At the end of that time 
he returned to New York, but in the fall of 
1840 again came to this county and took up 
his residence upon his farm in Hume town- 
ship, where he remained for three years. 
He was next engaged in farming in Proph- 
etstown and also manufactured cheese on 
an extensive scale, and in 1853-54 con- 
ducted a store in the village of Prophets- 
town. He was one of the leading citizens 
of his township, and died in Prophetstown 
in November, 1886. 



Judge Ramsay acquired his earlj- educa- 
tion in the common schools, and later at- 
tended the college at Dixon. After leaving 
that institution he began the study of law in 
the office of Frederick Sackett, at Sterling, 
and remained with him until admitted to 
the bar b}' examination at Dixon, in 1868. 
He began practice immediately at Morrison, 
forming a partnership with O. F. Wood- 
ruff, under the firm name of Woodruff & 
Ramsay, and he was connected with him in 
business for two years. He then opened 
an office and was engaged in active, practice 
alone until the summer of 1887, having 
charge of many of the most important cases 
that came up for trial in this county. He 
also took quite a prominent part in polit- 
ical affairs and served as a delegate to dif- 
ferent Republican conventions, including 
those of the state. 

In the fall of 1887, Judge Ramsay re- 
moved to Kansas City, where as a member 
of the firm of Ramsay & Getman, he was 
successfully engaged in practice for two 
years, but as times began to change, he re- 
turned to Morrison in November, 1889, and 
was engaged in general practice here until 
his election as circuit judge in June, 1897. 
His circuit covers the counties of Whiteside, 
Rock Island, Henry and Mercer. He had 
previously served as master in chancery for 
Whiteside county for several years, and re- 
signed that position to accept his present 
office. He has also been mayor of Morrison 



lO 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



and during his incumbency in that office was 
instrumental in establishing a good system 
of sewerage in the city. In connection with 
his law practice the Judge is also interested 
in farming to some extent. 

On the first of February, 1872, Judge 
Ramsay married Miss Lovisa Mclvenzie, of 
Prophetstown, a daughter of William R. 
and Harriet McKenzie, old and honored res- 
idents of that place. They have two sons: 
Luther Richmond, born May 18, 1876, 
graduated from the Morrison high school, 
took an elective course of two years at 
Oberlin College, and is now practicing law in 
Morrison in partnership with S. M. McCal- 
mont under the firm name of McCalmont 
tS; Ramsay; and Robert M., born February 
14, 1879, also graduated from the Morrison 
high school, and took a two years course of 
study at Exeter, New Hampshire, and Mt. 
Vernon, Iowa, and is now serving as court 
reporter. 

The Judge is a prominent member of the 
Morrison Club and is now serving on its ex- 
ecutive committee. After his return from 
Kansas City, he was chairman of the Re- 
publican executive committee of the county 
up to the time of his election as judge, and 
filled that position during the Harrison, 
Cleveland and McKinley campaigns, being 
especially active in the last named. The 
county was well organized and the county 
committee did effective work under his lead- 
ership. He was made a Mason in Dunlap 
lodge. No. 321, and now belongs to Proph- 
etstown chapter and Sterling commandery, 
and is a member of Medinah temple. Nobles 
of the Mystic Shrine. He has proved 
himself in all the relations of life, an 
earnest, honest, upright man, and a citizen 
of whom any community might be justly 
proud. 



DANIEL HOLLINSHEAD, a leading 
farmer and stock raiser of Ustick town- 
ship, residing on section 8, was born on the 
7th of Februar}', 1834, in Kingston, Can- 
ada, about thirty iniles from Toronto, and 
is a son of John and Elizabeth (Rush) Hol- 
linshead. The mother was a native of 
Pennsylvania and a grandniece of Benjamin 
Rush, one of the signers of the Declaration 
of Independence. Her mother, Mrs. Julia 
Ann Rush, belongs to a very patriotic fam- 
ily, and she heartily espoused the cause of 
the colonists. Frequently she would put 
on male attire and perform picket duty dur- 
ing the Revolutionary war. She accom- 
panied her son-in-law, John Hollinshead, to 
Canada, and later came with the family to 
Whiteside county, Illinois, where she died 
in 1842, being the first to be interred in the 
cemetery located on the Hollinshead farm. 
John Hollinshead, father of our subject, 
was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, Jan- 
uary 6, 1798, and when a mere lad removed 
with his father, Jacob Hollinshead, to Can- 
ada, where the latter died. He was a na- 
tive of one of the eastern states, was a hat- 
ter by trade, and a Quaker in religious faith. 
John Hollinshead was married in Canada, 
where he continued to make his home until 
the spring of 1839, when he came to White- 
side county, Illinois, accompanied by his 
wife and five children. They made the 
journey by way of the Great Lakes to Chi- 
cago, and after spending a few hours in that 
little hamlet, they proceeded on their way 
across the country. They located in what 
is now Clyde township. The father was 
impressed with the idea that Chicago would 
one day become a large city on account of 
the facilities it possessed for trading and 
shipping, and he returned to it and verbally 
bargained for a farm in what is now the 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



II 



heart of the city, but as he was unable to 
collect money which he had loaned, he 
could not secure the land. He made his 
home in Clyde township for two years, dur- 
ing which time he hauled his grain twice to 
the Chicago market, where he received ior 
the same sixty cents per bushel. At the 
time of his death, which occurred in 1845, 
he possessed a good farm of four hundred 
and forty acres in Ustick township. His 
wife died in the spring of 1863. Of the 
nine children born to this worthy couple, 
four are still living: Joshua, a resident of 
Ustick township; Daniel, our subject; Mary, 
wife of Herman Worthington, of Fulton; 
and Emily, who married Nathaniel HoUins- 
head, a cousin, and resides in Fulton. 

Our subject was but five years old when 
brought by his parents to Whiteside coun- 
ty, and he began his education in a little 
log school house under what is knosvn as 
the Bluff. He continued his studies there 
for some years, and remained at home until 
he attained his majority, when he and his 
brother Jacob rented the place of their 
mother and operated it together for about 
four years. He still lives on the old home- 
stead, where he had two hundred and thirty 
acres of valuable land on sections 7, 8 and 
17, Ustick township, besides seventy-one 
acres on section i, Fulton township. He 
follows general farming and stock raising, 
and has met with most gratifying success. 
Of late years he has given considerable at- 
tention to the breeding of fine horses and 
has one fine stallion, a Morgan, and owns 
an interest in a Belgian draft horse, the lat- 
ter having cost twenty-five hundred dollars. 
He also feeds cattle and hogs for the market 
quite extensively. 

On the 2nd of July, 1859, Mr. Hollins- 
head was united in marriage with Miss 



Mary Knight, a native of Hancock county, 
Illinois, and a daughter of Wesley and 
Louisa (Cowles) Knight, who were of the 
Mormon faith and when the people of that 
denomination were driven from Nauvoo 
they came to Fulton. Later her father died 
while on his way to California. His wife 
was a daughter of Elder Cowles, one of the 
elders who was opposed to Brigham Young 
on the question of polygamy. Mrs. Hoi 
linshead died April 8, 1S67. Of the four 
children born of that union, three died in 
infancy, the only one living being Dora, now 
the wife of Quincy L. Slocum, of St. Louis, 
by whom she has three children, Leith H., 
Lloyd Q. and Liebling Mary. 

Mr. Hollinshead was again married, 
September 16, 1868, his second union be- 
ing with Miss Rebecca M. Hubbell, who 
was born in Summit county, Ohio, July 31, 
1837. Her parents were Matthew and 
Betsy (Foote) Hubbell, the former a native 
of Bridgeport, Connecticut, the latter of 
western New York, and her paternal grand- 
father was Andrew Hubbell, a farmer by 
occupation. In New Berlin, New York, 
Matthew Hubbell learned the tailor's trade, 
which he continued to follow until forty- 
five years of age, when he turned his atten- 
tion to farming in St. Clair county, Michi- 
gan, whither he had removed from Ohio. 
There he died in November, 1886. In 
early life he was a Democrat, but prior 
to the Civil war was a strong Abo- 
litionist and took an active part inthe oper- 
ation of the underground railroad. Mrs. 
Hollinshead's mother had died January 19, 
1840, and in 1842 he married her sister, 
Seraphina Foote, by whom he had one 
child, Matthew, who married Effie Denton, 
has one child and resides on the old home- 
stead in St. Clair county, Michigan. There 



12 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



were five children born of the first marriage, 
of whom one died in infanc}'; Lucy died at 
the age of twenty-two years; Lois is the 
wife of Harvey Coburn, of Sanilac coun- 
ty, Michigan, and they have six children; 
Angelina is the wife of John Allen, of St. 
Clair count}', and they had four children, 
two now living; and Rebecca M., wife of 
our subject, completes the famil}'. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Hollinshead have been born 
five children: (i) Delia married a cousin, 
Frank Hollinshead, who is engaged in the 
ice and coal business in Fulton and they 
have two children, Jeanette A. and Thayer. 
(2) Hubbell, a farmer of Ustick township, 
married Phernia Wilson and has two chil- 
dren. Bayard and Gareld. (3) Earle is en- 
gaged in business with his brother Hubbell. 
(4) Archie died at the age of five years. (5) 
Burton assists his father in the operation of 
the home place. (6) Clare is at home. 

Mr. Hollinshead is identified with the 
Garden Plain Mutual Insurance Company. 
Politically, he affiliates with the Democrat- 
ic party, and he has been called upon to 
serve as road commissioner for six years 
and school director for a number of years, 
and is now serving as a justice of the peace. 
He is a progressive and enterprising man, 
who takes a deep and commendable interest 
in public affairs and gives his support to 
every measure which he believes calculated 
to prove of public good. His estimable 
wife is a member of the Episcopal church. 



REV. LOREN T. BUSH, who has been 
pastor of the Baptist church at Morri- 
son since May, 1895, was born at Busti, 
near Jamestown, Chautauqua county. New 
York, January 31, 1844, and is a son of 
Selden F. and Fiorina (Blackman) Bush. 



The father was born in Herkimer county. 
New York, but when a young man moved 
with his father to Chautauqua county, the 
family becoming pioneers of that section of 
the state. The grandfather helped to cut 
the road through the woods to his home at 
Busti. He had thirteen children who lo- 
cated within twelve miles of the old home- 
stead, so that the Bushes are very numer- 
ous in that part of the county. In connec- 
tion with farming the father of our subject 
followed contracting at building at James- 
town, New York, until Loren T. was four- 
teen years old, and then removed to Straw- 
berry Point, Iowa, which at that time was 
a new country, there being no railroad west 
of Freeport. He purchased a large tract of 
land, which he transformed into a good 
farm. He was an ardent supporter of the 
Republican party, with which his sons also 
affiliated, and was a member of the Baptist 
church. Our subject, who is next to the 
youngest in a family of six children, lost his 
mother when only six years old, and the fa- 
ther subsequently married again and by the 
second union also had six children. 

Loren T. Bush began his education in 
the schools of Busti, New York, and after 
the removal of the family to Iowa continued 
his studies there, preparing for college at 
the Burlington Collegiate Institute. In 
1 86 1, during the dark days of the Civil war, 
he enlisted on the first call for seventy-five 
thousand men, becoming a member of Com- 
pany C, First Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He 
participated in the engagement at Wilson 
Creek soon after the battle of Bull Run, and 
was with the western army until discharged 
on the expiration of his term of service. In 
January, 1864, he re-enlisted in the First 
Iowa Cavalry, which also belonged to the 
western army. Most of the time he was de- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



13 



tailed for clerical dut}' with the quartermas- 
ter of the regiment, having been wounded 
at Little Rock and being unable to do regu- 
lar work. He remained in that position 
until the close of the war. 

Before his second enlistment Mr. Bush 
finished preparing for college, and being 
finally discharged entered the University of 
Chicago, from which he was graduated in 
1868, receiving the degree of A. B. and 
three years later that of A. M. Immediately 
afterward he entered the Baptist Theolog- 
ical Seminary, a department of the same 
institution, and was graduated from the 
same in 1871. While in Chicago he was 
connected with the Shields Mission of the 
First Baptist church for four years, during 
which time he organized it into the Twenty- 
fifth Street Baptist church. He was con- 
nected with the cit}' relief work the winter 
after the great fire, and was ordained pastor 
of the Twenty-fifth Street Baptist church in 
1872, holding that position five years, dur- 
ing which time the church became self-sup- 
porting and had a membership of two hun- 
dred and twenty-five, with five hundred in 
the Sunday school. 

On the 1 2th of September, 1876, Mr. 
Bush married Miss Fannie E. Eaton, of 
Chicago, and they removed to Osage, Iowa. 
where he accepted the position of professor 
of languages in the Cedar Valley Seminary, 
of which his brother was at the head, while 
his wife had charge of the music. She had 
received excellent instruction both in in- 
strumental and vocal music and for a time 
played the pipe organ in several of the 
Chicago churches. For two years Mr. Bush 
was pastor of the ]3aptist church at Cedar 
Falls, Iowa, and at Waukegan, Illinois, for 
eleven years. The latter was a most satis- 
factory pastorate. There had been trou- 



ble in the church, but under his leadership 
the congregation again became united and 
the church prosperous. The house of wor- 
ship was repaired, the membership was 
largely increased, and it proved a very suc- 
cessful and pleasant pastorate. 

Mrs. Bush being in poor health the doc- 
tors advised a trip to the coast, and she 
and her husband went to Portland, Oregon, 
where he was pastor of the Emanuel Bap- 
tist church for three years. In search of a 
better climate they went to the beautiful 
city of Oakland, California, and doing the 
two years spent at that place Mr. Bush was 
assistant pastor of the First Baptist church 
and in charge of the city mission work. 
W'hile there he received a call from the 
church at Morrison, Illinois, and finally ac- 
cepted it in May, 1S95. He has built up 
the membership here from one hundred and 
twenty-five to one hundred and eighty and 
has thoroughly organized every department 
of the church work.- The church edifice 
was extensively repaired in 1S98 and is now 
in excellent condition. But any estimates 
of material progress give no indication of 
the great work he has done in molding 
and shaping to higher issues the lives of 
those to whom he has given his best thought. 
His life is entirely devoted to the ministry, 
and he is revered and loved, not only by his 
own congregation but by all who know him. 



WILLIAM D. RICHARDS, a retired 
carpenter and honored citizen of 
Morrison, where he has made his home 
since April, 1871, was born near Easton, 
Pennsylvania, November 12, 1827, and is a 
son of Isaac R. and Hannah (Chrisline) 
Richards, also natives of that place. There 
the grandfather Richards spent his entire 



14 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



life. He was of English descent, but our 
subject's maternal ancestors were of German 
extraction. About 1848 Isaac R. Richard 
brought his family to Stephenson county, 
Illinois, where he purchased a farm and en- 
gaged in agricultural pursuits until called 
from this life at the age of seventy-seven 
years. In early life he followed the car- 
penter's trade. The wife and mother died 
at the home of a son near Lena, Illinois, in 
1897, aged eighty-three years. Both were 
members of the Evangelical church, and 
were held in high regard by all who knew 
them. 

Our subject was educated in the schools 
of Easton, Pennsylvania, and there learned 
the carpenter's trade. On the 15th of 
April, 1853, he arrived in Stephenson 
county, Illinois, and located near Davis, 
where he worked at his trade until entering 
the army. In 1861 he responded to his 
country's call for troops, enlisting in Com- 
pany G, Forty-si.xth Illinois Volunteer In- 
fantry. He was in the service four years, 
being on duty in Tennessee, Kentucky and 
as far south as New Orleans. He partici- 
pated in the battles of Fort Donelson and 
Pittsburg Landing, and was then detailed to 
take care of the commissary department, 
being stationed much of the time on Presi- 
dents Island until he veteranized. He then 
went to New Orleans and up the gulf to 
Fort Gaines, where with his command he 
remained until the battles of Fort Blakely 
and Spanish Fort, when they went to Mo- 
bile. During this time it rained almost in- 
cessantly and they had no tents or shelter 
of any kind. They were ne.xt sent to Sel- 
ma, Alabama, to guard some meat the 
rebels had failed to secure, and divided it 
among the darkies and poor people, after 
which they returned to Mobile and New 



Orleans, then up the Red river to Shreves- 
port, Louisiana, where they were finally 
discharged February 12, 1866. Mr. Rich- 
ards returned home by way of the Missis- 
sippi river, and was mustered at Springfield, 
Illinois. After some time spent in Stephe- 
son county, he removed to Butler county, 
Iowa, where he lived for three years and a 
half, and then traded his farm there of two 
hundred and twenty acres, for his present 
home in Morrison, where he located April 
15, 1870. Here he engaged in contracting 
and building until ill health forced his re- 
tirement from active labor. 

On the 15th of April, 1855, Mr. Rich- 
ards was united in marriage with Miss 
Elizabeth Epley, of Davis, Illinois, who 
was born in Dauphin township, Centre 
county, Pennsylvania, April 24, 1835. Her 
father, Benjamin Epley, was a native of 
Berks county, the same state, where he 
made his home until attaining man's estate 
and then moved to Centre county, where 
he wedded Miss Salome Heckman, who was 
born in the house where their marriage was 
celebrated. The first thirteen years of their 
married life were passed in Centre county, 
and from there removed to Stephenson 
county, Illinois. The father engaged in 
preaching for the Evangelical church until 
185 1, when failing health caused his re- 
tirement and he turned his attention to 
farming. He was one of the first ministers 
of his denomination in Stevenson county, 
and the church which he established grew 
to be quite large under his pastorate. He 
also traveled over the country on horseback, 
preaching at various places. In 1873 he 
left the farm and moved to Davis, and from 
there went to Waverly, Iowa, in 1885. He 
died in the latter place in 1896, and his 
wife passed away November 15, 1897. She 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



It 



was the daughter of John Heckman, a 
farmer of Centre county. Mrs. Richard's 
paternal grandfather was John Epley, who 
was born in Berks county, that state, and 
died young. Of the ten children born to 
Mr. and Mrs. Richards only three are now 
living. Three were born before our subject 
entered the army, namely: David A., now 
a farmer of Cherokee county, Kansas, who 
married Mary Angel, of Iowa, and has one 
child by a former marriage, R. Roy; Levi E., 
who died at the age of three years; and Daniel 
L. , who died at the age of ten years. The 
others are Benjamin Franklin, who was 
born while his father was in the service and 
died at the age of eleven months; Jacob N., 
who died at the age of five 3ears; Ellen S., 
who died in Iowa, at the age of four months; 
George W. , who was born August 30, 186S, 
and is now a resident of Freeport, Illinois; 
John H., who was born December 17, 1869, 
and is also a resident of Freeport; Salome, 
who was born May 5, 1871, and is now de- 
ceased; and Mary E., who was born in July, 
1875, ^"'l is also deceased. Formerly Mr. 
and Mrs. Richards were members of the 
Evangelical church, but as there is no 
church of that denomination in Morrison, 
she has united with the Methodist Episco- 
pal church. Both are earnest, consistent 
Christian people, and Mr. Richards believes 
in taking the Bible as his guide and not the 
word of man. 



WILLIAM B. TILTON, deceased, was 
one of the honored early settlers of 
this county, as well as one of the leading 
citizens and representative farmers of Cij'de 
township, his home being on section 3, 
where his widow still resides. He was born 
in Licking county, Ohio, July 20, 1832, 



and was the oldest in a family of ten chil- 
dren whose parents were Richard J. and 
Betsey (Burns) Tilton, also natives of that 
state. In connection with farming the fa- 
ther operated a sawmill on his place in Lick- 
ing county for many years. At a very early 
day he and his son William B. came to Illi- 
nois and took up government land in Ogle 
and Carroll counties, ar.d also in Cljde 
township, \\'hiteside county, securing in 
this way about twelve hundred acres of land. 
The father became quite an extensive land 
owner, having at one time between two and 
three thousand acres of land, and he was a 
stock raiser of considerable prominence. 
His death occurred in 1856, the result of 
being kicked by a horse. His wife survived 
hini many years, dying March 26, 1896, at 
the age of eighty-four. 

William B. Tilton grew to manhood in 
his native state, and was provided with 
good educational advantages, attending first 
the common schools of Licking county, and 
later Granville College. He was about 
twenty years of age when he first came with 
his father to Illinois, making the journey in 
a one-horse wagon, but after four or five 
months spent here, he returned to Ohio, 
while his father remained in this state. In 
I 854 our subject again came to Illinois, and 
purchased one hundred and sixty acres of 
raw prairie land in Clyde township, White- 
side county. He was married in i860 and 
for three years thereafter he made his home 
in his native county, but at the end of that 
time he took up his residence permanently 
in this county. He engaged in stock raising 
quite extensive!}', shipping two or three car 
loads of stock each year, but his principal 
business was that of loaning money. At the 
time of his death he owned the home farm 
of two hundred and forty acres in Clyde 




^=<a 



dk^-z-t'^u 





4^ 



'^Tptc^t:^ 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



19 



ness activity. Of this class the subject of 
this sketch was a notable representative, 
his financial operations assuming breadth 
and scope which indicate the determination, 
persistence, sound judgment and power of 
combination which distinguish the born 
leader of men. 

Mr. Smith was born in Templeton, 
Massachusetts, February 10, 1S19, and was 
of good old Puritan stock. The early home 
of the family was in Ipswich, Massachusetts, 
but our subject's grandparents, Nathan and 
Nancy (Lamson) Smith, were both born in 
Mt. Vernon, New Hampshire, the former 
in 1777, the latter in 1782. They had only 
two sons, Nathan, Jr., and Leander. The 
father, who was a woolen manufacturer and 
also a farmer, removed to Templeton, Mas- 
sachusetts, at an early day, and in 1838 to 
Royalston, that state, where he died in 
1849, his wife in 1854. 

Leander Smith remained upon the home 
farm until sixteen years of age, when he 
entered the academy at New Ipswich, New 
Hampshire. He acquired a good elementary 
education and at the age of seventeen com- 
menced teaching school, a profession which 
he followed for six years. In the meantime 
he took up the study of medicine and 
matriculated at the medical department of 
Dartmouth College, from which he was 
graduated with the degree of M. D. , in i S42, 
at the age of twenty-three years. For three 
years he was successfully engaged in prac- 
tice at Richmond, Vermont, but not being 
satisfied with the scope of profession and in 
order to extend his business reljitions he 
went to Tioga county, Pennsylvania, where 
the lumber resources of the place were 
being developed and it seemed to offer a 
more promising field for the exercise of 
abilities and ambition such as Mr. Smith 



possessed. He located at Eikland, and 
from 1845 to 1853 was identified with 
varied interests in the county. His pro- 
fessional skill won him a large and lucrative 
practice, and his energy and financial 
ability were brought to bear on other lines 
of business which he conducted with all the 
ardor demanded by the exigencies of the 
location. He entered heavily into the 
lumber business and was interested in mer- 
cantile trade of considerable proportions. 

Exciting reports of the gold discoveries on 
the Pacific coast reached him and in March, 
1S49, Dr. Smith joined the argonauts of Cal- 
ifornia. At that time Sacramento was a 
village of tents and San Francisco con- 
tained but a few houses. The government 
was very poor as the rapid influx of all 
kinds of people set aside law and order and 
each man seemed to rule himself. Mr. 
Smith engaged in prospecting on the north 
fork of the American river for a year and 
rendered efficient aid to the administration 
of measures to secure protection of the peo- 
ple, the government being in a formative 
condition and dependent on the efficiency 
of authorities constituted irregularly in the 
absence of a systematic government. 

After a year spent in California, where 
he met with good success, Dr. Smith re- 
turned to Pennsylvania in 1850 and resumed 
his former duties and business relations. 
Under the same impetus which led him to 
that state, he went to Vinton, Benton coun- 
ty, Iowa, in 1853, established practice and 
was soon extensively identified with the gen- 
eral interests of the place. He owned a 
large tract of government land, upon which 
he platted a part of Vinton. A year later 
he went to Lyons, Iowa, and engaged in 
practice and business there until 1856, when 
he came to Fulton, Whiteside county, Illi- 



20 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



nois. Here he devoted his time to financial 
projects and enterprises, and was extensive- 
ly engaged in the manufacture and sale of 
luinber for ten years. He purchased large 
tracts of government land in Wisconsin and 
Minnesota, from which he cut the timber, 
and then sold the land to the settlers. In 
1856 he established the banking house of 
Smith, Root & Company, of which he 
owned a controlling interest until 1864, in 
which year the financial institution of L. 
Smith & Company was established at Mor- 
rison. In 1865 the latter was converted 
into the First National Bank, of which he 
was president and A. J. Jackson, cashier. 
In 1876 he became a resident of Morrison, 
and two years later founded the banking 
house of Smith & Mackay. Mr. Smith was 
also interested in the real estate business 
and owned and helped improve two thou- 
sand acres of land in this county besides 
several thousand acres in Iowa, Nebraska, 
Wisconsin and Minnesota. He was con- 
ceded to be at the head of finances in this 
county. 

On the 18th of August, 1843, at Rich- 
mond, New Hampshire, Mr. Smith married 
Miss Elizabeth Parkhurst, a daughter of 
Dr. John Parkhurst, of that place. She 
died at Elkland, Pennsylvania, January 31, 
1851, and he was again married. May 2, 
1855, his second union being with Miss 
Dolly A. Alien, a native of Cortland, New 
York. To them were born si.x children, 
namely: Alice; Frank L. ; Lewis W. ; Ed- 
ward A., a member of the firm of L. Smith 
& Son, and now president of the First Na- 
tional Bank of Morrison; and Harry W. 

In 1868, Mr. Smith again visited Cali- 
fornia and noted the remarkable changes 
that had taken place in that state since his 
mining operations there. Socially he was a 



member of the Masonic lodge at Fulton. 
He was reared a Jeffersonian Democrat and 
supported that party until 1848, when he 
became identified with the Free Soil move- 
ment and voted for Van Buren. In 1856 
he espoused the cause of the Republican 
party and continued one of its earnest sup- 
porters. In religious sentiment he favored 
the Baptist church, but was tolerant of all 
bodies based on Christianity and was gener- 
ous to all. He took quite an active and 
prominent part in public affairs, and while 
at Fulton was elected to the state Legisla- 
ture in 1862 and again in 1864. He was 
an able legislator, was a member of the 
committees on banks, corporations, state 
institutions and others of less importance, 
and introduced a number of important bills, 
one of which was for the building of the 
Rockford, Rock Island & St. Louis Rail- 
road, now a part of the Chicago, Burlington 
& Quincy system. For a number of years 
he was a member of the city council of Ful- 
ton and also city treasurer, and was alder- 
man in Morrison for a time. On the organ- 
ization of the College of Northern Illinois at 
Fulton, he was made a member of the 
board of trustees and was treasurer of the 
same until his death, with the exception of 
one year, having entire charge of its endow- 
ment fund. He died August 7, 1889, hon- 
ored and respected by all who knew him. 



lASON C. BOOTH, the present com- 
U mander of Alpheus Post, G. A. R., of 
Morrison, is one of the honored veterans 
of the Civil war whose devotion to his coun- 
try was tested not only by his service on 
the field of battle but in the still more 
deadly dangers of a southern prison. 

This gallant soldier was born in Sin- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



21 



clairsville, Belmont county, Ohio, March 
17, 1843, a son of Caleb Evans and Lu- 
cinda (Cobb) Booth. The father was born 
in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, No- 
vember 7, 1S07, and at an early day re- 
moved with his father, Edmond Booth, to 
Ohio. The latter came to this country as 
a British soldier during the Revolutionary 
war and took part in the battle of Bunker 
Hill, but after serving for two j'ears with 
his countrymen, he was captured by the 
American forces and later joined the Sixth 
Maryland Regiment, as a member of the 
company commanded first by Captain Har- 
vest and later by Captain Duff. After the 
war he settled in Cecil county, Maryland, 
where all of his children were born with 
the exception of the father of our subject. 
From there he removed to Lancaster coun- 
ty, Pennsylvania, later to Sinclairsville, 
Ohio, and finally to Nashville, Holmes 
county, Ohio, where he died in 1836, at 
the advanced age of ninety- two years. 
Throughout life he worked at his trade as a 
stocking weaver. In Sinclairsville, Caleb 
E. Booth, father of our subject, learned 
the carpenter's trade, which he followed 
until two years prior to his death. For 
some j-ears he made his home in Wheeling, 
West Virginia, and was a man of consider- 
able prominence in his community. He 
served as justice of the peace for two years, 
and was deputy sheriff of Sinclairsville. 
He died in March, 1854, but his wife long 
survived him, passing away in Morrison, 
Illinois, March 9, 1891. She was born in 
Columbiana county, Ohio, October 13, 
181 1, and was a daughter of Pleasant and 
Amy (Terrill) Cobb, the former born No- 
vember 5, 1760, the latter November 8, 
1766. Her father was quite well off, hav- 
ing had large landed interest in Columbiana 



county, and on his removal to that place 
from Richmond, Carolina county, Virginia, 
took with him a number of slaves. Mrs. 
Booth was reared in the Ouaker faith, but 
after her marriage both she and her hus- 
band united with the Methodist Episcopal 
church. 

As a contractor the father lived in dif- 
ferent places, but principally at Wheeling, 
and in the common schools of those places 
our subject was educated. On the Presi- 
dent's first call for three months men to 
assist in putting down the rebellion he en- 
listed in Company E, I irst West \"ir-ginia 
Volunteer Infantry, under Col. B. F. Kelley, 
and later re-enlisted for three years in Com- 
pany A of the same regiment, commanded 
by Col. Joseph Thoburn. He was all 
through the campaign in the Shenandoah 
valley, his first engagement being the bat- 
tle of Winchester, where Stonewall Jack- 
son was defeated. At Port Republic he 
was taken prisoner, June 9, 1862, and after 
being confined for three months in the 
prison at Lynchburg, Virginia, was sent to 
Belle Isle, where he was finally liberated. 
He was then taken twelve miles to Aikens 
Landing, on the James river, by boat to 
Baltimore and by railroad to Washington, 
D. C, where the soldiers were given a 
feast. Mr. Booth's health was entirely 
broken down and he was ill with typhoid 
fever in a hospital at Washington for some 
time, after which he was sent to the con- 
valescent camp at Alexandria. He finally 
returned to Wheeling on parole, and spent 
a short time at home before rejoining his 
regiment at North Mountain, West Virginia, 
where they remained from December, 1863, 
until Lee made his raid, in June of the fol- 
lowing year. They crossed into Maryland, 
fording the Potomac near Hancock at night, 



22 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



and arrived at Petersburg about the ist of 
September. While there our subject was 
one of two hundred detailed, September lo, 
1863, to capture a small band of rebels en- 
camped near Moorfield, and in the engage- 
ment was wounded in the left thigh.. After 
lying for some time where he was injured 
he was taken to the home of a rebel and it 
was two days before his wound was dressed. 
His brother, who was with him, finally got 
a man to take him to a hotel in Moorefield, 
eleven miles outside of the Union lines. 
Later he was taken by wagon to Peters- 
burg, a distance of eleven miles. At this 
time his leg was again broken and he came 
very nearly losing the limb. On the ap- 
proach of General Early with his army the 
other soldiers left, leaving our subject alone 
with his mother, who had secured a pass 
through the lines and had come to care for 
him. They were unmolested by Early, 
and when the Union troops returned they 
were taken in an ambulance to New Creek. ^ 
Mr. Booth was given a thirty days' fur- 
lough and returned to \\'heeling. At the 
end of that time the surgeon would not 
allow him to rejoin the regiment, and as 
his term of enlistment expired September 
19, he was discharged October 19, 1864. 

In 1865, Mr. Booth went to Columbiana 
county, Ohio, where he attended school for 
a time, and then started to learn the car- 
riagemaker's trade, but on account of his 
injured leg he was unable to follow the 
same. He lived in Alliance, Ohio, until 
1866, then in Canton until 1872, when he 
removed to Cleveland, the same state. 
With his brother he came to Prophetstown, 
Illinois, but at the end of a year returned to 
Cleveland, and did not locate permanently 
in this state until 1876, when he brought 
his mother to Prophetstown. Subsequently 



he lived for a time in Como, and spent three 
months in Chicago, after which he came to 
Morrison, where, in 1880, he purchased the 
residence which has since been his home. 
He was married in 1889, to Miss Isabel 
Hopton, of Barnesville, Ohio, who was 
born near W^oodsfield, Monroe county, that 
state, and is a daughter of Edward Hopton, 
of Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Booth both hold 
membership in the Methodist Episcopal 
church, and he affiliates with the Repub- 
lican party and is a prominent member of 
Alpheus Clark Post, G. A. R., of which he 
is now master. 



HENRY E. HELMS. Only those lives 
are worthy of record that have been 
potential factors in the public progress, in 
promoting the general welfare or advancing 
the educational or moral interests of the 
community. Mr. Helms was ever faithful 
to his duties of citizenship, and by the suc- 
cessful conduct of his business interests not 
only promoted his individual success but 
also advanced the general prosperity. 

He was born in Hanover, Germany, in 
1833, and came to America in 1853, settling 
in Whiteside county, Illinois, two years 
later. On his arrival in the new world he 
was not only without capital, but was un- 
familiar with the English language, but be- 
ing ambitious, enterprising and energetic, 
he soon acquired an excellent knowledge of 
English, and before his death became one 
of the prosperous and influential men of his 
community. 

In i860, Mr. Helms was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Lucy Gould, who was born 
in Lexington, Massachusetts, March 3, 1S38, 
a daughter of Thomas C. and Sarah (Locke) 
Gould, also natives of that state. The 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



23 



Locke family is of English origin, and was 
founded in the new world at a very early 
day, ancestors of Mrs. Gould having been 
buried at Lexington, Massachusetts, since 
1669. Mrs. Helm's paternal grandparents 
were Thomas and Abigail (Chase) Gould, 
also representatives of old Massachusetts 
families. In 1837 Thomas C. Gould came 
to Whiteside county, leaving the family in 
Massachusetts, but in 1840 he returned to 
Massachusetts and started west with the 
family, arrived here in January, 1841, 
and took up their residence in Whiteside 
county, Illinois, where the father afterward 
purchased a tract of land and successfully 
engaged in farming. Upon that place he 
died in 1876, and his wife passed away in 
1897, honored and respected by all who 
knew them. In their family were fourchil- 
dren, two sons and two daughters, namely: 
Thomas C, a resident of Lyndon township, 
Whiteside county; Sarah L. , widow of John 
Hazard, by whom she had two children, 
Jessie, wife of William Lohr; John G., a 
resident of Rock Island; Lucy, now Mrs. 
Helms and Harvey, who died in infancy. 
Mrs. Helms was only three years of age 
when brought by her parents to this county, 
and here she grew to womanhood and was 
married. Of her five children, one died in 
infancy; Albert E. married Samanta L. 
Grits and lives in Arizona; Emily T. is the 
wife of Charles A. Hamilton, whose sketch 
appears elsewhere in this volume; Cora E. 
is the wife of W'illiam Millikan, of Joplin, 
Missouri, and they have one child, Emily 
T. ; and John W. lives with his brother-in- 
law, Mr. Hamilton; Bertha, daughter of 
Kate and Deidrick Brandes, lived with Mrs. 
Helms from the age of eight years until she 
was married, in June, 1899, to H. W. Bald- 
ridge, a minister of Indiana. She was edu- 



cated at a normal school and engaged in 
teaching prior to her marriage. 

As a farmer Mr. Helms met with most 
excellent success, and became the owner of 
a valuable place of two hundred and forty 
acres, which he kept under a high state of 
cultivation and in first-class order. His 
time was devoted to stock raising and gen- 
eral farming and he was numbered among 
the best agriculturists of his locality. On 
locating on his farm it was only partially 
improved, but he soon transformed it into 
one of the most desirable places of its size 
in the county. He died February 18, 1899, 
and up to the time of his death continued to 
carry on his farm. 

Mr. Helms was one of the most public- 
spirited and enterprising men ol his com- 
munity, and took deep interest in all things 
for its betterment. He was a recognized 
leader in Lyndon township and a strong 
Republican in politics, being often sent as a 
delegate to the county conventions of his 
party and several times to the state con- 
ventions. He was a prominent member of 
lodge No. 750, F. & A. M., and of the 
commandery at Sterling, and at the time of 
hisdeath all neighboring lodgessentletters of 
condolence to the family. Those who knew 
him best speak in unqualified terms of his 
uprightness and integrity in business affairs, 
and his willingness to aid any enterprise for 
the public good. Mrs. Helms, an estimable 
lady, of many sterling qualities, is still liv- 
ing in the same house with her son-in-law, 
Charles A. Hamilton. 



M 



RS. SARAH M. WHITE, who resides 
on section 4, Lynden township, traces 
her ancestry back several generations, lie- 
ing of Scotch extraction on her father's side. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



and of English on her mother's. She was 
born in Craftsbury, Orleans county, Ver- 
mont, September 21, 18 18, and is a daugh- 
ter of Nehemiah M. and Sally (Durrell) 
Lyon, the former a native of Woodstock, 
Connecticut, born November 25, 1789, and 
the latter a native of Concord, New Hamp- 
shire, born October 27, 1788. They were 
mrried in Craftsbury, Vermont, February 
27,1814, and to them were born eight chil- 
dren, all of whom reached maturity. Royal 
C. married Betsy Wilkins, and they were 
the parents of si.\ children — Willard, Sarah, 
Dow, Delight, Virginia and Emma. Of 
these, Virginia and Delight are deceased. 
Royal C. Lyon was born in 18 14, and died 
in 1873. He first lived in Lodi, Medina 
county, Ohio, from which place he removed 
with his family to Michigan, where his 
death occurred. Baxter, born in 18 16, 
married Sarah A. Vaughn, by whom he had 
eight children: Sylvester, Martha (de- 
ceased), Marcus, Edwin (deceased), Dwight, 
Frank (deceased), Rhoda (deceased), Ella 
and Cora. After a separation, he later 
married Mrs. Jane Ritter, ni-c Stewart, a 
widow lady, by whom he had two children: 
William (deceased), and Myrtie. He also 
lived for a time in Medina county, Ohio, but 
afterwards came to Whiteside county, and 
later moved to Newton, Kansas, where he 
died in 1889. Sarah M. is the subject of 
this sketch. William H., born in 1821, 
married Harriet Persons, and to them were 
born Royal M. , Harriet, Sarah, deceased; 
Jennie, Ada and Ida, the two last named 
being twins, Ada now being deceased. Will- 
iam H. never came west, but died in Crafts- 
bury, Vermont, in 1872. Augustus, born 
in 1823, married Mary Widdleton, and they 
had four children, the first born dying in 
infancy. The others were May, Angle and 



Frank. The family made their home in 
Massachusetts for some years and then re- 
moved to Peoria, Illinois. Judah, born 
in 1825, married Laurinda Ketchum, 
and they have seven children: Chauncy, 
deceased; Chauncy, Celestia and Caroline, 
twins, the former being deceased; George, 
deceased; Royal and Ed. From Craftsbury, 
Vermont, Judah moved with his family to 
Lodi, Ohio, a few years later to Lyndon 
township, then to Wisconsin and later to 
Etna, Washington, and there died. Mar- 
cus, born in 1828, never married. He came 
to Whiteside county, and died in 1858, be- 
ing killed in a runaway. Martha, the twin 
sister of Marcus, born in 1828, first married 
Thaddeus Leonard, by whom she had one 
daughter, Susan E. Her husband dying, 
she later married Charles Ristew, and is now 
living in Sterling. They have four children: 
Charles F. , in Chicago; Sarah, deceased; 
Julia M. and Minnie. 

Nehemiah Lyon, the paternal grand- 
father of our subject, was born October 9, 
1753, and April 16, 1778, married Betty 
Bugbee, who was born July 6, 1753. They 
were the parents of nine children: Hitty, 
Walter, Baxter, Betty, Lucretia, Sally, 
Nehemiah, Walter (second) and Benjamin. 
Lemuel Durrell, the maternal grandfather 
of Mrs. White, and father of Sally Lyon, 
was a lieutenant in the Revolutionary war. 

Sarah M. Lyon grew to womanhood in 
her native state, and on the 14th of May, 
1845, was united in marriage with Ruel 
Hurlburt, who was born December 27, 
I 8 19, in Clover, Orleans county, Vermont, 
and by this union four children were born, 
of whom the first three — Martha L., Mar- 
cus M. M. and Nathan H., died in early 
childhood. Zella E., who was born De- 
cember 26, 1856, was married December 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



25 



30, 1874, to Ira H. Slater, who was born 
near New Laceyville, Susquehanna county, 
October 3, 1854. His father, Roswell Slater, 
came to Lyndon, Whiteside county, in 1855. 
He was a soldier in the Union army, be- 
longing to the Seventy-fifth Illinois \'olLm- 
teer Regiment, and died in July, 18C3. 
To them have been born five children, as 
follows: Ruel, born June 5, 1876, died 
May 20, 1880. Pearl A., born May 20, 
1878, was married December 30, 1896. to 
Fred Ansen, and they have one son, Floyd, 
born January 26, 1898. Ruby L., born 
July I, 1880; Martha V., born February 
14, 1882; and- John A., born May 16, 1884, 
are nil at home. 

Almost immediately after their marriage 
Ruel Hurlburt and wife came to Whiteside 
county, arriving here June 19, 1845, and 
settled on a farm now owned by Mrs, 
White. Here Mr. Hurlburt engaged in 
farming, and here .^11 their children were 
born. At the time of their arrival the coun- 
try was thinly settled, and there were no 
roads worthy of the name. The land pur- 
chased by Mr. Hurlburt was wild prairie 
land, on which not a furrow had been 
turned. He at once commenced the im- 
provement of the place, and in due time 
had a well improved and well cultivated 
farm. He continued to farm until his 
death, April 24, i860. His death was 
deeply lamented by his family and their 
many friends. 

In December, i860, Mr. Hurlburt was 
united in marriage with Matthew White, 
who was born in Craftsbury, Vermont, in 
April, 1 82 1. He was an old schoolmate of 
Mrs. Hurlburt. They remained on the old 
homestead, and Mr. White continued to 
manage the farm until he, too, was called to 
his reward. He died October 18, 1884, 



and our subject was for the second time 
left a widow. She still remains on the home 
farm, whicli consists of one hundred and 
twenty-five acres of well improved land. 
She is a consistent member of the Congre- 
gational church, and is well known and 
highly respected in the community which 
has been her home for more than half a 
century. 



ROBERT A. NORRISH. Among the 
progressive and enterprising farmers of 
Whiteside county who thoroughly under- 
stand their business and pursue the avoca- 
tion of their chosen calling in a methodical 
and workmanlike manner, is the subject of 
this biography. He resides on section 2, 
Mount Pleasant township, where he owns 
and operates a valuable farm of three hun- 
dred and si.\t3' acres. 

Mr. Norrish was born on his pleasant 
farm, December 18, 1866, and is a son of 
Robert S. Norrish, of Morrison, who is 
represented on another page of this volume. 
After attending the district schools of Mount 
Pleasant township for sometime, he became 
a student at Beloit College, Beloit, Wis- 
consin, and later entered the Sterling Busi- 
ness & Phonograph College, at Sterling, 
Illinois. After completing his education, he 
returned to the home farm, which he oper- 
ated with his brother for one year, and then 
conducted it alone after his father's retire- 
ment from business. In the spring of 1899, 
he purchased the place, which comprises 
three hundred and sixty acres, and is now 
carrying it on with marked success. He 
has always given the greater part of his at- 
tention to stock, breeding some and feeding 
more, and usually ships to the city markets 
about four car loads of cattle each year and 



26 



THE. BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



two of hogs. He is also interested in horses, 
principally coach horses, and generally has 
upon his place from twenty-five to thirty 
head. He is a man of good business ability, 
energetic and progressive, and generally 
carries forward to successful completion 
whatever he undertakes. 

On the 5th of February, 1892, was 
celebrated the marriage of Mr. Norrish and 
Gertrude Harnham, who was born in Ustick 
township, Whiteside county, February 3, 
1 87 1, and is a daughter of John C. and 
Jane (Ridley) Harnham, natives of Lincoln- 
shire, England, who are now living on sec- 
tion 34, Ustick township, honored and 
highly respected citizens of that community. 
Our subject and his wife have one child, 
Frank Parnham, born September 10, 1895. 
Mrs. Norrish is a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal church, of Morrison, and both 
she and her husband are held in high regard 
by all who have the pleasure of their ac- 
quaintance. He is not identified with any 
particular political party but casts his ballot 
in favor of those candidates which he be- 
lieves best qualified to fill the offices. 



GEORGE W. BIRT, a representative 
farmer of Whiteside county, who owns 
and operates a well improved and highly 
cultivated farm of one hundred and si.xty- 
four acres on section 17, Ustick township, 
was born February i, 1858, in the same 
township, about a half mile from his present 
home. His father, Henry J. Birt, was born 
in Gloucestershire, England, in 1825, and 
was a son of George W. Birt, a native of 
the same county and a weaver by trade, 
being employed in the silk mills of England 
in early life. After his emigration to Amer- 
ica, he worked in woolen mills in New 



Hampshire until 1841, when he and his 
son Henry J. came to Whiteside county, 
Illinois, passing through Chicago when it 
was a mere hamlet. They took up land in 
Clyde township, but after residing there for 
a few years removed to Ustick township, 
where the grandparents both died. In their 
family were si.x children. 

Henry J. Birt was quite small when 
brought by his parents to the new world 
and was only si.xteen years of age when the 
family came to this county. Here he married 
Miss Louisa Craiton, who was born in Ohio 
of German parentage. By this union four 
children were born: (i) Mary is the wife of 
W. D. Yopst, a mason of Albany, Illinois, 
and they have three children. (2) Ella, a 
resident of Independence, Iowa, first mar- 
ried Albert Harn, by whom she had two 
children, and is now the widow of Daniel 
Blue, by whom she had one child. (3) George 
W. . our subject, is the ne.xt of the family. (4) 
Alfred C. , who lives on the old homestead 
in Ustick township, married Hepsie Stowell 
and has three children. Throughout life 
the father engaged in agricultural pursuits, 
making a specialty of stock raising. He 
died April 14, 18S7, and his wife passed 
away January 29, 1895. Both were ear- 
nest and consistent members of the Method- 
ist Episcopal church, and in politics he 
was first a Republican, but later voted in- 
dependently. 

Our subject received his education in 
the district schools of Ustick township, and 
remained under the parental roof until his 
marriage, which was celebrated February 5, 
1877, Miss Nellie Farwell becoming his wife. 
She was born in this county, September 3, 
1859, and is a daughter of Solomon and 
Margaret (Plank) Farwell, both natives of 
Denmark, Lewis county. New York, the 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



2; 



former born January ir, 1827, the latter 
September 21, 1828. Her grandfathers, 
Solomon Farwell, Sr. , and John Plank, both 
spent their entire lives in the Empire state. 
The father, who was a carpenter by trade, 
came to Whiteside county, Illinois, in 1855, 
and located in Unionville, where he worked 
at that occupation for a few years. He then 
purchased land in Ustick township and 
turned his attention to farming, but is now 
living retired in Unionville. His wife is 
still living and with one exception all of 
their nine children still survive, Mrs. Birt 
being the fifth in order of birth. To our 
subject and his wife have been born eight 
children: William E., born March 26, 1880, 
Lula, born April 11, 1882; George H., born 
August 26, 1884; Emma, born November 
22, 1886; Millie Dale, born May 3, 1889; 
Lee H., born March 16, 1893; Nellie M., 
born February 5, 1895; and Ella L., born 
May 28, 1897. All are still living and are 
at home with the exception of Millie Dale, 
who died September 18, 1893. 

Mr. and Mrs. Birt began their domestic 
life upon his present farm in the home he had 
previously built, and there he has since suc- 
cessfully engaged in general farming and 
stock raising, keeping on hand a good grade 
of horses, cattle and hogs. Politically he is 
thoroughly independent, always voting for 
the men whom he believes best qualified to 
fill the offices, regardless of party ties. 



EDWIN WATERS PAYNE, an honored 
veteran of the Civil war and a promi- 
nent citizen of Morrison, where he has made 
his home since October, 1865, was born in 
East Lebanon, New Hampshire, February 
8, 1837, and is a worthy representative of 
an old and distinguished New England 



family, which was founded in America by 
Thomas Paine (as the name was then 
spelled), who came to this country from 
England and was made a freeman of East- 
ham, Massachusetts, in 1639. His son, 
Elisha Paine, was born at that place, and 
there he was married, January 20, 1685, to 
Rebecca Doane. Four years later they re- 
moved to Canterbury, Connecticut. His 
brother, John Paine, was one of the ances- 
tors of John Howard Payne, the author of 
Home-Sweet Home. Rev. Elisha Payne, 
son of Elisha and Rebecca (Doane) Paine, 
was born in Eastham, Massachusetts, De- 
cember 29, 1693, while his parents were 
there on a visit. He was a minister of the 
Separatists church and was imprisoned five 
different times for preaching the gospel with- 
out a license from the established church. 
He was a noted evangelist, preaching in 
several different colonels, and devoted his 
entire time to the work after 1742, prior to 
which time he was a distinguished attorney 
of Connecticut November 24, 1720, to Mary 
Johnson, and died at Bridgehampton, Long 
Island, August 26, 1775. 

Colonel Elisha Paine, son of Rev. 
Elisha and Mary (Johnson) Payne, was born 
in Canterbury, March 7, 1730, and was a 
brother-in-law of Colonel Aaron Cleveland, 
of Revolutionary fame. In 1774, Colonel 
Payne removed to East Lebanon, New 
Hampshire, of which place he became a 
prominent lawyer and successful farmer. 
He held the rank of lieutenant, colonel in 
King George's Thirteenth Regiment, New 
Hampshire Militia, and took a very active 
and influential part in public affairs and 
in the politics of his state. He was one of 
the most prominent men of New Hampshire 
for some years, was deaa of Dartmouth 
College, and lieutenant-governor of Ver- 



28 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



mont in 1784, on the organization of tlie 
state. He died in East Lebanon, July 20, 
1807. He married Anna Waldo, April 12, 
1753. She died May 15, 1759, in Connecti- 
cut. For his second wife he married. May 
20, 1762, Elizabeth Spaulding, of Plainfield, 
Connecticut, who died in East Lebanon, 
New Hampshire, August 29, 1809. Their 
son William, the grandfather of our subject, 
was born-in Plainfield, Connecticut, Septem- 
ber 18, 1772, but the greater part of his 
life was spent in East Lebanon, New Hamp- 
shire, where he followed farming. At Kill- 
ingly, Connecticut, he was married March 
19, 1807, to Ruth Waters, who died Octo- 
ber 13, 1849, and his death occurred in 
East Lebanon, January 24, 1826. Her 
father, Daniel Waters, was a lieutenant in 
the Fifth Connecticut Infantry during the 
Revolutionary war and served two terms of 
enlistment. Through him our subject is 
eligible to membership in the Soeiety of 
Sons of the American Revolution. 

William Payne, Jr., father of our sub- 
ject, was born in East Lebanon, New 
Hampshire, February 15, 1808, and there 
grew to manhood and was educated. On 
the 8th of November, 1832, he married 
Miss Eliza Wells, who was born in the 
same place, January 16, 1808, a daughter 
of Reuben and Polly (Sweetland) Wells, 
also representative, of old New England 
families. William Payne followed farming 
in his native state until 1838, when became 
to Vergennes, Jackson county, Illinois, and 
purchased a tract of wild land on which he 
made his home until coming to Albanj', 
Whiteside county, in 1845. Subsequently 
he removed to Newton township and en- 
tered government land, upon which he en- 
gaged in agricultural pursuits until 1873, 
owning and operating a fine farm of two 



hundred acres. He was called upon to fill 
several township offices. In 1873 he laid 
aside active labor and removed to Morrison, 
where he lived retired until his death, which 
occurred November 16, 1892. His wife died 
November 17, 1895. They were faithful 
members of the Methodist Episcopal church, 
and he served as class leader and steward 
in both the church at Morrison and in the 
country. Of the seven sons born to them, 
three died in early life: Allen W. died 
April 6, 1848; Charles A. died April 18, 
1848; and George H. died February 16, 
1848. The others were all soldiers of the 
Civil war; William A., now a resident of 
Morrison, was captain of Company F, 
Ninety-third Illinois Volunteer Infantry; 
Edwin Waters, our subject, and Lucian 
Augustine, now of Hastings, Nebraska, were 
members of Company A, Thirty-fourth Illi- 
nois Volunteer Infantry; and Ira Arthur 
was sergeant in the same company, of 
which his brother, William A., was captain, 
and was killed in the battle of Missionary 
Ridge, November 25, 1863. 

Edwin Waters Payne, of this review, 
was educated in the common schools of this 
state and the Mt. Morris Seminary. He 
assisted in the work of the home farm until 
nineteen years of age and then took up the 
carpenter's trade, which he followed for five 
years and a half or until his enlistment, 
August 25, 1861, soon after the first call for 
three years' men. He was one of the orig- 
inal sergeants of his company and filled that 
position until discharged April 7, 1865. 
With the Army of the Cumberland he par- 
ticipated in the battles of Shiloh and Liberty 
Gap, and was all through the Atlanta cam- 
paign, including the engagements at Resaca, 
Rome, Kenesaw Mountain and Jonesboro, 
and constant skirmishing for four months. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



29 



In 1862 he was detailed in the recruiting 
service and was connected with that depart- 
ment for four months. At Jonesboro, Sep- 
tember I, 1864, during the last battle fought 
for the possession of Atlanta, he lost his 
right arm, and was sent to the hospital in 
Atlanta, where he remained until the 23d of 
October. He arrived home November 4, 
but gangrene set in and the arm had to be 
re-amputated November 21. On the 1st of 
March, 1865, he left home to join his regi- 
ment at Goldsboro, North Carolina, expect- 
ing to serve as lieutenant, but was not ac- 
cepted on account of the loss of his arm, and 
was soon discharged. On his way home he 
stopped in Washington, being in that city 
on the night of President Lincoln's assassin- 
ation. 

Locating in Morrison in 1865, Mr. Payne 
served as deputy county clerk for four years, 
and was then elected county clerk, which 
office he most creditably and acceptably 
filled for twenty-five years — the longest 
period any one ever held office in this county. 
During his incumbency the business of the 
office was largely increased, and he was the 
first to occupy the new office rooms and 
arrange them. He was also one of the 
aldermen of the city for si.x years, and dur- 
ing his first term of two years the water 
works were established. On the expiration 
of his term, December 3, 1894, he opened 
an insurance and real estate office in Morri- 
son, and now represents a number of impor- 
tant companies and is doing a good business 
in that line. He loans money on farm lands 
and for the past three years has been special 
tax examiner and has paid taxes for the 
Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Company 
in Illinois. 

On the 14th of February, 1884, Mr. 
Payne was united in marriage with Miss 



Cornelia Hudson, who died April 13, 1882, 
leaving no children. He was again married, 
December 30, 1884, his second union being 
with Miss Letitia Happer, by whom he has 
one son, Edwin Happer, born September 
21, 1887. They have a pleasant home on 
North street, and are active and prominent 
members of the Presbyterian church, of 
which Mr. Payne is now a trustee. He is 
also a prominent member of Alpheus Clark 
post. No. 118, of which he has been com- 
mander one term and quartermaster three 
terms. He is widely known and is quite a 
popular and influential citizen of his com- 
munity. At his first election he received 
all but eleven votes cast in the county, and 
at another time all but fifteen, and with one 
exception was always elected without any 
exertion on his part. 



FRANK E. FITCH. Among the pro- 
gressive, energetic and successful farm- 
ers and stock raisers of Whiteside county, 
who thoroughly understand the vocation 
which they follow, and are consequently 
enabled to carry on their calling with profit 
to themselves, is the subject of this sketch. 
He is actively engaged in agricultural pur- 
suits on section 15, Lyndon township, where 
he owns a fine farm of two hundred and 
eighty-two acres. 

Mr. Fitch was born in the same town- 
ship, November 21, 1852. His father, 
George W. Fitch, was born in Pike, Bradford 
county, Pennsylvania, February 21, 1822, 
and when young removed with his parents 
to Ohio, where the family made their home 
for a few years. In 1837, at the age of 
fifteen years, he came to Whiteside county, 
Illinois, and took up his residence in the 
western part of Lyndon township. The 



30 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



country at that time was very new and un- 
settled, and surrounded by primitive pioneer 
scenes he grew to manhood. On attaining 
his majority he purchased a farm of the 
government. He successfully engaged in 
farming up to within a few years of his 
death, which occurred August .10, 1887. 
He retired from active labor but still re- 
sided on his farm. During his business ca- 
reer he was also a prominent and successful 
stock buyer, and was one of the popular 
and influential men of his community. In 
politics he was a Republican, and for one 
year he filled the office of supervisor. On 
the 4th of February, 1S45, he was united 
in marriage with Miss Ellen D. Millikan, 
who was born in Stockbridge, Massachu- 
setts, March 24, 1825,3 daughter of Daniel 
F. and Aurelia (Pease) Millikan, natives of 
Washington and Stockbridge, Massachu- 
setts, respectively. From that state they 
removed to Ohio, where they lived for eight 
years, and in 1838 came to Whiteside coun- 
ty, Illinois, locating in Lyndon, where their 
home was the third or fourth building erected 
in the village. Her father was a shoe- 
maker by trade but also followed farming 
to a limited extent. He died August 18, 
1879, and his wife passed away March 20, 

.1875- 

Of the eight children born to George W. 
and Ellen D. (Millikan) Fitch, three died 
young. Robert H. died at the age of 
twenty-two years. Flora A. married 
Charles Abernethy, of Fairmount, Nebras- 
ka, and died March 18, 1895, leaving one 
child, Winnifred, who is now living with an 
aunt in Nebraska, while her father is in 
California with his parents. Frank E., our 
subject, is the ne.xt of the family. Emily A. 
first married Judson Pollard, by whom she 
had one child, Genevieve, and is now the 



wife of A. Megrew, of Denver, Colorado. 
Nellie A. is the wife of Walter D. Ambler, 
who is engaged in the dry goods and gro- 
cery business in Weeping Water, Nebraska. 
Frank E. Fitch was educated in the 
Lyndon school, and remained at home, 
working for his father most of the time 
until he came into possession of the old 
homestead by purchase in the spring of 

1884. He has since added many improve- 
ments to the place, and is successfully en- 
gaged in general farming and stock raising, 
giving particular attention to the latter 
branch of his business. 

On the 18th of July, 1883, Mr. Fitch 
was married to Miss Carrie M. Sweatt, who 
was born in Canon City, Minnesota, Sep- 
tember 20, 1864, a daughter of Meltiah C. 
and Cynthia (Amy) Sweatt, natives of the 
New England states. They had seven chil- 
dren, of whom two died in infancy; Orlando 
J. is a mason of Osakis, Minnesota; Clar- 
ence A. is a carpenter of North Dakota; 
Elroy E. is a farmer of Osakis, Minnesota; 
Carrie M. is the wife of our subject, and 
Arthur, also a resident of Osakis, wedded 
Mary Judkins, and they have two children, 
Frank and Percy. Mr. Sweatt died April 
I, 1897, and his wife departed this life No- 
vember 25, 1896. Mr. and Mrs. Fitch 
have two children: Flora A., born in 

1885, and Genevieve, born in 1899. 
Although Mr. Fitch still lives upon his 

farm, he has rented the place since 1894, 
and has practically laid aside business cares 
and is living retired. He casts his ballot 
with the Republican party, but has never 
aspired to any political prominence. Relig- 
iously his wife is a member of the Congre- 
gational church, and he is highly respected 
and esteemed by all with whom he comes 
in contact. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



31 



REV. JAMES W. SKINNER. Only the 
history of the good and great comes 
down to us through the ages. The true re- 
ligion has been the strongest influence 
known to man through all time, while the 
many false doctrines that have sprung up 
have flourished only for a day and then van- 
ished. More potent at the present time 
than at any period in the world's history 
are the work and influence of Christianity, 
and among those v\ho are devoting their 
lives to its inculcation among men is Mr. 
Skinner, the honored pastor of the Presby- 
terian church at Morrison. He is one of 
the leading ministers of that denomination 
in this section of the state, and his life is a 
source of inspiration and encouragement to 
all who know him. 

Mr. Skinner was born in Versailles, Ken- 
tucky, October 11, 1855, a son of Thomas 
and Jane(Biggar) Skinner. The father was 
born in Ayre, Scotland, on the estate of the 
Duke of Bandean, where the grandfather, 
Thomas Skinner, Sr., was employed as a 
gardener. The former was educated in the 
schools of Edinburg, and under his father's 
able instruction learning gardening, serving 
his apprenticeship upon the Duke's estate. 
He came to America in 1S50 as a landscape 
gardener and was employed to lay out the 
estate of Robert Alexander at Woodford, 
Kentucky, who was one of the most prom- 
inent stockmen of that state in early days. 
He remained with him for some years, dur- 
ing which time he was married at Le.xing- 
ton, Kentucky, to Miss Jane Biggar, a na- 
tive of Dumfries-shire, Scotland. Her fa- 
ther, William Biggar, was a Manxman, be- 
ing one of the old settlers of the little inde- 
pendent island, known as the Isle of Man, 
before it was attached to Great Britain. 
After his death, his daughter, Mrs. Skinner, 



came to America in 1847, ^nd six years later 
gave her hand in marriage to the father of 
our subject. They continued to live upon 
the Alexander estate for some time and 
there our subject was born. Later the fa- 
ther owned a line large nursery at Maysville, 
Kentucky, and not only supplied many with 
fruit trees in that state, but had agents scat- 
tered throughout Missouri as well. He was 
one of the first to engage in the business in 
Kentucky and continued in successful oper- 
ation there all through the war and up till 
1877, when he went with his son to Hiawa- 
tha, Brown county, Kansas, where he died 
in 1897. His estimable wife is still living 
in that state. For many years he was an 
active and consistent member of the Pres- 
byterian church and held the office of elder 
for a quarter of a century. He also took 
an active interest in the Sunday-school and 
every department of church work. 

Mr. Skinner, of this sketch, began his 
education at a private school in Maysville, 
taught by his uncle, William Richardson, 
who was the Kentuckian that whipped 
General Grant as a school boy under him. 
He remained for college at Danville, Ken- 
tucky, and engaged in teaching there for a 
time. He pursued a three years course of 
study at Centre College, Danville, where he 
was graduated in 1880, with the degree of 
B. A. and M. A., and later attended the 
Theological Seminary at that place for two 
years, but completed his preparation for the 
ministry at Princeton College in 1853. 

The same year Mr. Skinner was called 
to a mission in Terre Haute, Indiana, and 
was there ordained Wednesday, September 
2, 1883. He organized the mission into a 
church, which was first known as the Moffat 
church and later as the Washington Street 
church. Two years later locating there the 



32 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



church became selfsupporting through his 
untiring labors, and they purchased an old 
church building, The membership steadil}' 
increased, and on leaving there in October, 
1886, the church was in a strong and flour- 
ishing condition. That fall he accepted a 
call to the church in Morrison and was in- 
stalled as pastor the following spring. There 
has since been a marked increase in member- 
ship, which has doubled. This is partly 
due to the disbanding of the Congregational 
church, but to a great extent to the influ- 
ence and teachings of our subject. The 
church edifice has been remodeled and a 
fine pipe organ put in. 

On the 1 2th of October, 1884, Mr. 
Skinner was united in marriage with Miss 
Julia Barfield, a daughter of Castillo Bar- 
field, of Lexington, Kentucky. She is a 
graduate of Sayre Institute of that city, and 
was a teacher in a young ladies' seminary at 
Danville, holding the chair of Latin and 
Greek, and also mathematics. Mr. and 
Mrs. Skinner have two children, Julia F. 
and Jane N. 



HENRY D. HEATH is the owner of a 
fine farm of one hundred acres lying 
in sections ig and 30, Hopkins township. 
He was born on the farm where he now re- 
sides December 29, 1852. His father, Ira 
Heath, was born in Berkshire county, Massa- 
chusetts. May 22, 18 1 8, while his grand- 
father, William Heath, was a native of the 
same county and state, born July 26, 1779. 
The latter married Olive Brown, who was 
born April 16, 1781. They were the parents 
of twelve children, as follows: Alvin, born 
in 1805; Samantha, in 1807; Caroline, in 
1808; Laura, in 1809; Ransom, in 1810; 
Thetes, in i8i3;Lucian R., in 181 5; Will- 



iam, in 1816; Iva, in 1818; Russell B., in 
1820; Philenia, in 1822; and Heman, in 
1825. The children are now all deceased. 

In 1840 Ira Heath married Mary A. Har- 
mon, who was born February 22, 1822, and 
the daughter of Walter and Azubah (Hyde) 
Harmon, both of whom were born in 1805 
in Berkshire county, Massachusetts. They 
were the parents' of five children, two of 
whom died in infancy. Those who grew to 
maturity were Porter J. , who died in Dakota 
in 1897; Mary A., the mother of our sub- 
ject; and William, living in Hopkins town- 
ship. Mr. and Mrs. Ira Healh were mar- 
ried in Massachusetts, and in 1846 came to 
Whiteside county, Illinois. For about four 
years after his arrival he worked at odd 
jobs, but in 1849 purchased the farm where 
our subject now resides. They were the 
parents of five children; George W., born 
December 7, 1841, married Electa Fellows, 
who was born in 1846. His death occurred 
September 13, 1875. Samantha C. mar- 
ried Henry Clark, and they moved to Iowa, 
where her death occurred May 17, 1872. 
Rosella A. died when two years of age. 
Henry D. is the subject of this sketch. 
Frank died in infancy. An adopted daugh- 
ter, Martha L. Figures, was married in 
1876 to N. J. Cole, of Morrison, but died 
July 23, 1877, when nineteen years old. 
Ira Heath continued to engage in farming 
until his death in 1886. He was a member 
of the Baptist church, and in politics was a 
Republican. His wife survived him and 
makes her home with her son, Henry D. 
Her paternal grandfather, John Hyde, was 
a soldier in the Revolutionary army. The 
family was of English descent. 

The subject of this sketch was reared on 
the home farm, and assisted his father in 
its cultivation until he was twenty-one years 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



33 



old, in the meantime attending the public 
schools as the opportunity was afforded him, 
which was principally in the winter months. 
On the 25th of December, 1877, he was 
united in marriage with Miss Jennie Dickey, 
who was born June 16, i860, in Venango 
county, PennsyKania, and daughter of 
David D. and Margaret (Hayes) Dickey, 
who were also natives of Pennsylvania and 
the parents of ten children, seven of whom 
are yet living. Ira died when young. Leah 
married David G. Lindslej'. by whom she 
had thirteen children, eleven yet living. She 
died in Hopkins township in 1898. Enmia 
died when twenty years old. Nelson H. 
married E. Jennie Mayberry, and they have 
two children, Blanche and Vivian G. They 
reside in Sterling. John married Maggie 
Windland, and they reside in Clay county, 
Illinois. Anderson D. married Mary Eve- 
land, and their seven children are David, 
May, Harmon, Eunice, Viola, Daisy and a 
baby. They reside in North Hume. Jennie 
is the wife of our subject. Charles married 
F. Annie Bryson, and they have three chil- 
dren, Ralph, Marie and . Their home 

is in Hume Center. Ezra, unmarried, is 
living in Allentown, Pennsylvania, where he 
is principal of a business college. Cyrus 
W. is living in Sterling, Illinois, where he 
is in the office of the Keystone Manufactur- 
ing Company. The family came to White- 
side county, Mr. Dickej' first making a home 
for them in Como. They later moved to a 
farm in Hume township, which he purchased 
and operated for a time. Subsequenth' he 
returned to Como, where his death occurred. 
His widow died in Rock Falls in 1894. 

After his marriage Mr. Heath took his 
young bride to the old homestead, where he 
was reared and where they still continue to 
reside. Three children came to bless their 



union. Mary L., born December 29, 1878, 
was married March 15, 1899, to Otto W. 
Harrison, and they now live in Union Grove 
township, where Mr. Harrison is engaged in 
farming. Clark F. , born September 16, 
1880, is now telegraph operator at Fulton 
Junction. Raymond H., born June 29, 
1885, is at home. In politics Mr. Heath is 
a stanch Republican. He has served his 
district faithfully for a number of years as 
school director. As a farmer he is a suc- 
cess, and he gives his attention strictly to 
his business and enjoys the respect of his 
friends and neighbors. 



PETER M. LUDENS, LL. B., a well- 
known attorney of Morrison, Illinois, 
was born in Rochester, New York, Decem- 
ber 21, 1867, and is a son of John and 
Dorothy (Vanderburg) Ludens, who were 
born, reared and married in Holland and 
came to the United States in May, 1867. 
They first located at Rochester, New York, 
where the father engaged in farming, and 
from there removed to northeastern Wis- 
consin, and two years later to Fulton, 
Whiteside county, Illinois, settling here 
when our subject was about five years old. 
After operating rented land for a time the 
father purchased a farm and engaged in 
agricultural pursuits there until his death, 
which occurred May 8, 1893. The mother 
still survives and now makes her home in 
the city of Fulton. 

Our subject is one of the oldest of a 
family of eight children. His primary ed- 
ucation was obtained in the common schools 
of Fulton, and later he became a student in 
the Northern Illinois College at that place, 
taking first an elective course and subse- 
quently a course in the law department. 



34 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



In the meantime he worked on the farm 
through the summer months and in this 
way paid his own way through college. He 
was graduated with the degree of LL. B. 
in 1893, and then spent a year or more in 
the law office of Mr. McMann, of Fulton. 
In 1894 he was appointed deputy circuit 
clerk by L. E. Tuttle, and during the two 
years he filled that position he had ample 
opportunity to examine the records and 
other documents prepared by different law- 
yers, which has proved of great benefit to 
him in his professional career. On resign- 
ing his position he entered upon practice 
alone and opened an office in Morrison in 
1897. Having already become favorably 
known, he soon picked up a good practice 
and is now one of the promising young at- 
torneys of the city. He is an able and suc- 
cessful lawyer engaged in general practice. 
He attends and supports the Methodist 
Episcopal church, and is a member of 
Anchor lodge. No. 120, K. P. 



JOHN H. GRAY. M. D., is one of the 
most successful homeopathic physicians 
of northwestern Illinois, and a prominent 
resident of Morrison. He has much natural 
ability, but is withal a close student and 
believes thoroughly in the ma.xim "there is 
no excellence without labor. " His devotion 
to the duties of his profession therefore, 
combined with a comprehensive understand- 
ing of the principles of the science of medi- 
cine, has made him a most successful and 
able practitioner, whose prominence is well 
deserved. 

The Doctor was born in Spencer, In- 
diana, March 24, 1855, a son of James and 
Rebecca (McGinnis) Gray. The father was 
born in Londonderry, Ireland, about 1802, 



of Scotch parentage, his father being James 
Gray, Sr. , who was a representative of an 
old Scotch family, but lived and died in Ire- 
land. The Doctor's father came to the new 
world when a young man and located in 
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he was 
employed for a number of years by the dry 
goods firm of Blackstock & Company. Later 
he successfully engaged in the same business 
on his own account at Pittsburg, Pennsyl- 
vania, until the panic of 1837, when he 
closed out his business and emigrated to 
Spencer, Indiana, where he was principal of 
the city schools for a number of years, hav- 
ing been highly educated in Ireland. Sub- 
sequently he purchased a farm near Spencer 
and was extensively and successfully engaged 
in agricultural pursuits throughout the re- 
mainder of his life. He was a consistent 
member of the Presbyterian church and a 
Republican in politics. During his residence 
in Pittsburg, he married Miss Rebecca Mc- 
Ginnis, a native of that place and a daughter 
of Francis McGinnis, one of its pioneers. 
To them were born ten children, of whom 
our subject is the youngest. The mother 
died in April, 1867, the father in October, 
1890, honored and respected by all who 
knew them. 

During his boyhood Dr. Gray attended 
the common and high schools of Spencer, 
and at home received considerable private in- 
struction from his father. Later he engaged 
in teaching school for a number of years, 
mostly in Carroll and Jo Daviess counties, 
Illinois, and then took up the study of medi- 
cine with Dr. Van Patten, of Mt. Carroll. 
He attended lectures at the medical depart- 
ment of the University of Iowa and Hahne- 
mann Medical College, Chicago, and was 
graduated from the latter institution with 
the degree of M. D., in 1883. Returning to 




J. H. GRAY, M. D. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



37 



Mt. Carroll, Illinois, he engaged in practice 
there for one year, and then went to Lincoln, 
Nebraska, where he remained four years, dur- 
ing which time he was president of the 
State Homeopathic Society and lectured in 
the medical department of the University of 
Nebraska for two winters. He next went 
to Kansas City, where during the winter of 
1888-9 he held the chair of theory and 
practice in the Kansas City Homeopathic 
Medical College — the leading chair of the 
institution — and he also engaged in private 
at that place. In the spring of 1889 he 
came to Morrison, and has since been 
actively and successfully engaged in practice 
here. He is quite a prominent member of 
the Rock River Institute of Horneopathy and 
is also a member of the State Homeopathic 
Society, and took an active part in the work 
of those organizations, but his large and 
constantly increasing practice claims more 
and more of his attention. He is one of the 
leading Homeopathic physicians of this sec- 
tion of the state, and he is often called in 
consultation in the surrounding counties. 
In former years he wrote largely for medical 
publications, but this also has had to be 
curtailed. Socially, he belongs to Dunlap 
lodge, No. 371, F. & A. M. ; Prophetstown 
c^iapter, R. A. M. ; and Sterling command- 
ery. No. 57. K. T., and at one time he 
also held menibership with the Knights of 
Pythias and the Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows. 

Dr. Gray was married June 9, 1885, to 
Miss Adda L. Mackay, of Morrison, who 
was born in Carroll county, Illinois, June 
13, 1861, and died October 26, 1898, in the 
faith of the Presbyterian church, of which 
she was a consistent member. Of the three 
children born of this union, Duncan Mackay, 
the eldest, was killed by a railroad train at 



Morrison; and Edward Everett died at the 
age of two years and three months, the only 
one now living being Adelaide. Mrs. Gray 
was educated at the Young Ladies' Athe- 
neum and Conservatory of Music at Jack'^on- 
ville, Illinois. She was a daughter of Dun- 
can Mackay, who was born in the highlands 
of Scotland, amid the heather hills of Suth- 
erlandshire, and was reared in a good Chris- 
tian home, where he aided m the farm work 
and tended flocks. At the age of twenty- 
one he came to America to prove his powers 
of endurance under the adversities that 
tried his patience and developed his integ- 
rity. After battling with difficulties in Nova 
Scotia and Maine, he sought and found a 
home in the west, settling in Carroll county, 
Illinois, in 1840. His industry and rare 
good judgment soon brought him prosperitj'. 
He opened up farms, started manufactories, 
established banks and gave organic form and 
system to enterprises that sprang up with 
the advancement of the country. Through- 
out northwestern Illinois his name became 
the synonym of honorable success in every 
line of business he touched. His character 
was beyond reproach and his record above 
the reach of suspicion. The crowning glory 
of his manhood was religion. Under divine 
discipline his soul had developed strength. 
His gentleness was the outgrowth of love 
and devotion to Christ, in whose service a 
naturally impetuous disposition was sub- 
dued to a tender and patient method of 
thought, speech and action. He was a con- 
sistent Christian and for many years served 
as elder in the little church at Oakviile, his 
farm residence. His home in Morrison, in 
later life, was marked by a genial and un- 
ostentatious piety. No deserving charity 
was ever passed by him without recognition. 
He gave with a free hand to all the causes 



38 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



the church presented. Park College, to 
which he gave twenty-five thousand dollars, 
has a memorial building bearing his name. 
His benefactions were constant and numer- 
ous during life; in dj'ing he failed not to 
remember the'needs of many charities with- 
out as well as within the range of the Pres- 
byterian church. Among other tokens of 
public recognition was his appointment, 
unsought, as a commissioner from Illinois 
to the World's Fair at Vienna, where he 
discharged his duties in an admirable man- 
ner without cost to the state. But he pre- 
ferred the quiet of home life to public posi- 
tions, and to honors of state the joy and 
privilege of a private sphere of usefulness, 
where his influence might tell on the wel- 
fare of societ}' and the prosperity of the 
church. His well rounded life had an ap- 
propriate closing. Death, though not un- 
expected, was sudden, but it found him 
ready for the call. It was a brief struggle, 
but it was victory throughout. He died in 
Morrison, September 5, 1889, in his seventy- 
eighth year. Truly such a life is worth 
having been lived, and such lives deserve 
permanent record on the pages of their 
country's history, that others, seeing their 
good works, may follow in their footsteps. 



rOHX J. ENTWHISTLE, a thorough 
kJ and skillful farmer residing on section 
34, Ustick township, was born on the 20th 
of March, 1857, in Jo Daviess county, Illi- 
nois, near Elizabeth, in the township of 
that name. The father was born in Phil- 
adelphia, Pennsylvania, in August, 1832, 
and when a small boy came to this state. 
As soon as old enough he commenced farm- 
ing and successfully followed that pursuit 
in Jo Daviess county until 1870, when he 



sold his property there and purchased one 
hundred and twenty acres of improved land 
in Whiteside county, to which he has added 
until he now has two hundred and forty 
acres. He is still living on the original 
purchase, and is one of the most highly re- 
spected men of the community. In poli- 
tics he is a Republican. In Jo Daviess 
county, he was married to Miss Ellen Law- 
ton, who was born in New York, and they 
became the parents of seven children, two 
of whom died in infancy. The others are 
as follows: Margaret is the wife of J. D. 
Odlin, of Union Grove township, Whiteside 
county, and they have one daughter, Nellie; 
John J., our subject, is the ne.xt of the fam- 
ily; Carrie is the wife of W. L. Abbott, of 
Chicago; Hannah is at home; and George 
W. married Caroline Steiner, a native of 
Ohio, and had one child who died in infancy. 
During his minority, John J. Entwhisile 
remained on the home farm, was educated 
in the district schools of the neighborhood, 
and for two years worked by the month for 
his father. Later he rented one of the 
farms until he was able to purchase eighty 
acres, for which he paid forty-two dollars 
per acre. In February, 1879, he led to the 
marriage altar. Miss Orena M. Goff, who 
was born in Ustick township, in October, 
1855, a daughter of Franklin B. and Mary 
(Baker) Goff, early settlers of this county, 
who are now living in Clinton, Iowa. Mrs. 
Entwhistle is one of a family of five chil- 
dren, the others being as follows: Armena 
is the wife of Charles Roberts, a farmer of 
Franklin county, Iowa, and they have six 
children, two sons and fourdaughters: Lym m 
J., an employe of the Chicago & Northwestern 
Railroad Company, residing in UsticU town- 
ship, married Adelia Bull, and has six chil- 
dren living; Sylvester W. is deceased; and 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



39 



Nary Delos married Eva Smaltz, and is a 
railroad fireman living in Clinton, Iowa. 
Mr. and Mrs. Entwhistle have fourchildren, 
Sadie, Arthur and Arlie, twins, and Leta, 
all at home. 

After his niarri;ige Mr. Entwhistle locat- 
ed on one of the farms owneii by his father, 
and still resides upon that place, success- 
fully engaged in general farming and stock 
raising. He owns eighty acres of land on 
section 34, Ustick township, also a half 
interest in one hundred and forty-eight acres, 
his brother being his partner, and besides 
this he also operates two hundred acres 
belonging to his father. He is systematic 
and methodical in business affairs and 
thoroughly' understands the occupation he 
has ( hnsen as a life work. Socially, he 
affili.ites with Ustick lodge. No. 9, Mystic 
Workers of the World, and politically is 
identified with the Republican party. He 
is an active worker for his party's interests, 
has held the office of school director for a 
number of years, has also served as road 
commissioner, and is at present supervisor 
of his township, an office he is most credit- 
ably and satisfactorily fillmg. 



JH. SIMONSON, deceased, was one of 
the highly respected and honored citi- 
zens of Whiteside county, who was for 
many years prominently identified with its 
agricultural interests. He was born in Berk- 
shire county, New York, November 6, 182Q, 
and was a son of Frederick and Sebina 
(Harvey) Simonson, also natives of the 
Empire st;ite, where the father followed 
(armitig until 1839, when, in company with 
his wife and children, he came to Illinois in 
a pr.iirie schooner. He located in what is 
now Hopkins township, Whiteside county. 



where he purchased one hundred and sixty 
acres of Thomas Mathews, now deceased. 
Upon the place was a small log house, into 
which the family moved their few household 
goods, and there in true pioneer style they 
began life in the west. To the improvement 
and cultivation of his land the father im- 
mediately turned his attention. 

Upon the home farm in Hopkins town- 
ship our subject grew to manhood, and his 
education was obtained in the subscription 
schools, which for some time were con- 
ducted at his home. He and the other 
children of the family were largely assisted 
in acquiring a good fund of information by 
their father, who was a well-educated man. 
Previous to his marriage our subject engaged 
in teaching school for a number of terms, 
and afterward followed farming for a time 
on the Rock river in Lyndon township. On 
selling his farm there, he purchased one 
hundred and si.xty acres in Mount Pleasant 
township, which was already under cultiva- 
tion, and to that tract he added until at the 
time of his death he owned four hundred 
acres of valuable farming land in one body, 
besides a tract of timber land in Hopkins 
township. 

On the 3d of January, 1853, Mr. Simon- 
son married Miss Lavinia M. Sherwin, who 
was born in Bennington county, \'ermont, 
July 15, 1830, a daughter of Jacob and 
Polly (Lyon) Sherwin, natives of Mas- 
sachusetts. Her grandfather. Jacob Sher- 
win, Sr., was the first Presbyterian minister in 
Massachusetts. He was a graduate of Yale 
College and the diploma he received from 
that noted institution of learning is still in 
possession of the family. Both he and his 
wife died in the east. Mrs. Simonson's 
father, who was a farmer by occupation, 
also died in Vermont, but the mother came 



40 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



west and passed away in Whiteside county, 
Illinois. She was a daughter of Jonathan 
and Olive (Poole) Lyon, natives of Mas- 
sachusetts, who removed to Bennington 
county, Vermont, after the Revolutionary 
war, and died there. Her father was a sol- 
dier of the Continental army and lost an arm 
in the service. Mrs. Simonson is the 
younger in a family of two children, the 
other being Elijah O., a resident of Cen- 
tralia, Illinois, whose wife, Mary Stevens, 
died leaving four children. To Mr. and 
Simonson were born five children, namely: 
Marcia is the wife of Walter E. Know, of 
Clark county. South Dakota, and they have 
three children: Kate W., is the wife of J. H. 
Chamberlin, an insurance agent of Chicago, 
though their home is in Austin, Illinois, and 
they have four children; Walter died in in- 
fancy; Cora B. is the wife of W. J. Austin, 
a postoffice employe in Chicago, and they 
have four children; and Effie May died in 
infancy. 

Mr. Simonson died March 21, 1882, 
while on a prospecting tour through South 
Dakota. Politically he was identified 
with the Republican party, and socially 
affiliated with Dunlap lodge, F. & A. M., 
of Morrison. He was a consistent and 
faithful member of the Round Grove Method- 
ist Episcopal (hurch, and his upright, 
honorable career gained for him the con- 
fidence and isttem of all with whom he 
came in contact either in business or social 
life. 



DANA B. SEGER, M. D., is a skilled 
physician and surgeon, of Morrison, 
Illii.ois, whose kimwledge of the science of 
medicine is broad and comprehensive, and 
whose ability in applying its principles to 



the needs of suffering humanity has gained 
him an enviable prestige in professional 
circles. 

Dr. Seger was born in Rumford, O.xfcrd 
county, Maine, January 4, 1842, a son of 
Allen and Achsa (Howard) Seger. His pa- 
ternal great-grandfather was a resident of 
Boston, but his grandfather, Nathaniel 
Seger, removed from Massachusetts to 
Maine at an early day, and took up a tract 
of new land in Oxford county, vihere he 
made his home. He was once captured by 
the Indians and was a member of a Massa- 
chusetts regiment in the Revolutionary war. 
The Doctor's father was born in Hanover, 
Bethel township, Oxford county, Maine, in 
1792, and was reared amid pioneer scenes. 
In early manhood he married Miss Achsa 
Howard, of Temple, Hillsboro county. New 
Hampshire, a daughter of Samuel and Mary 
Howard. The Howard family was founded 
in Boston in 1635. There Mrs. Seger's fa- 
ther resided in early life, and from Massa- 
chusetts removed to New Hampshire, where 
he died February 11, 181 5, at the age of 
seventy-five years. He was a member of 
the New Hampshire militia and was a very 
influential and prominent man. In 1852, 
the Doctor's parents removed with their 
family from Rumford, Maine, to Kewaunee, 
Illinois, but after residing there for a short 
time came to Erie, Whiteside county, where 
the father purchased land and made his 
home until his death. Both he and his 
wife died in 1872, honored and respected by 
all who knew them. They were faithful 
members of the Christian church and the 
father was a Republican in politics. 

During his boyhood Dr. Seger attended 
first the public schools of Maine and later 
of Erie, Illinois. In i860 he commenced 
reading medicine with Dr. Taylor, of Erie, 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



41 



but the following year laid aside his text 
books to join the boys in blue of Com- 
pany I, Forty-fifth Illinois Volunteer 
Infantry, which was mustered in at 
Chicago and first sent to Cairo. The 
Doctor participated in the battles of Fort 
Henry and Fort Donelson, but soon after- 
ward was taken ill and sent to St. Louis, 
where he was discharged on account of dis- 
ability. In 1862, he resumed the study of 
medicine, but as soon as his health would 
permit, here-enlisted in Company K, Seven- 
ty-fourth Illinois \'olunteer Infantry, which 
regment was from Rockl'ord and was as- 
signed to the Army of the Tennessee under 
the command of General Thomas. As soon 
as Dr. Seger arrived he was detailed as hos- 
pital steward, and in that capacity was in 
the field hospital of the Fourth Army Corps 
for two years or until the close of the war, 
during which time he gained much valuable 
experience in surgery and the treatment of 
various diseases. Returning to Chicago he 
attended lectures at Rush Medical College, 
from which he was graduated with the de- 
gree of M. D., in 1868. He immediately 
opened an office at Erie and was not long 
in building up a good practice in the village 
and surrounding country. While there he 
was married, February 16, 1873, to Miss 
Katherine L. Reynolds, a daughter of Will- 
iam and .Ann Reynolds. They have become 
the parents of three children, namely: 
Inez, Ivy and Ralph. 

During his residence in Erie the Doctor 
was a member of the County Medical So- 
ciety, served as coroner of the county and 
held different township offices. In May, 
1872, he removed to thi county seat, where 
he has since successfully engaged in general 
practice, though he makes surgery his spec- 
ialty and has most of the cases along that 



line in the place. He stands high among 
his professional brethren and is an honored 
member of the Rock River Valley Medical 
Society. He also belongs to Dunlap 
lodge, F. & A. M., the chapter at Prophets- 
town, and of different insurance orders. 
Religiously, he supports the Presbyterian 
church. 



ADDISON P. THOMAS, an honored 
veteran of the Civil war, and a suc- 
cessful farmer residing on section 20, Lyn- 
don township, was born on the 1 2th of June, 
1845, '1 Mount Pleasant township, this 
county. His father, George W. Thomas, 
was born in St. Clair county, Illinois, in 
1820, a son of Anthony and Jane (Jordan) 
Thomas, natives of South Carolina, in 
whose family were the following children: 
Polly, wife of Felix French; Margaret A., 
wife of G. O. James; Julia, wife of Samuel 
Currey; Grizzy, wife of Henry Paschal; 
James, who married Sarah Piatt; Elizabeth, 
wife of William French; George W., father 
of our subject; John, who died unmarried in 
California, and William, who married Marj- 
Hodges. In Cass county, Illinois, George 
W. Thomas was married, in 1842, to Miss 
Mary Paschal, who was born in Wilson 
county, Tennessee, March 4, 1823, a 
daughter of Isaiah and Agnes (Freeman) 
Paschal, natives of North Carolina. Their 
children, William Henry, who married 
Grizzy Thomas, as previously stated; 
John D., who married Nancy Short; David, 
who married Mary Snyder; Emily, wife of 
Joel Horn; Coieniau, who married Sally 
Street; Amy, wife of .Allison McCord; Sam- 
uel, who married Hannah Street; Lucy, 
wife of James Thomas; Amanda, wife of 
Samuel Stevenson; Jared, who married 



42 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Margaret Shaffer; Green, who married 
Sarah Deweber; Mary, mother of our sub- 
ject, and Joann, wife of Richard Wright. 
Mrs. Thomas is the only one of the family 
now living. In 1842, immediately after 
their marriage, George W. Thomas and wife 
came to Hickory Grove, Whiteside county, 
and he then pre-empted land in Union 
Grove, where he opened up a farm and 
made for himself and family a home. He 
was a successful fanner and carried on that 
occupation up to within three years of his 
death, owning two hundred and thirty-six 
acres of land in Mount Pleasant township. 
His last days were spent in retirement in 
Morrison, where his widow still lives. At 
the time of his death, which occurred Au- 
gust 30, 1893, he was one of the oldest set- 
tlers of the county. In politics he was a 
Republican. He was an earnest, consist- 
ent Christian, a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal church, to which his wife also 
belongs, and he was a leader in church and 
Sunday school work. 

In the family of this worthy couple were 
eleven children, two of whom died in infan- 
cy, and two others died young The others are 
as follows: Francis M., a retired farmer, of 
Morrison, married Margaret Hawk and has 
one son, Henry; Addison P., our subject, 
is the next of the family. Samuel T. mar- 
ried Margaret Harrow and follows farming 
in Mt. Pleasant township. Nathan J., a 
retired farmer of Morrison, married Emma 
Heaton, and has two children living, Eu- 
nice and Cleo. Elizabeth is the widow of 
David Finch- and lives in Sterhng. She has 
nine children living, Clara, Elma, Albert, 
Martha, Margaret, Jennie, George, Ole and 
Roy. John Milton, a resideiit of Ustick 
township, married Annie Cope, and has 
three children, Nellie, John and Edna. 



George E. married Grace Ouackenbush and 
died at the age of twenty-five years. Min- 
nie is the wife of Jacob Feldman, a farmer 
of Mt. Pleasant township, and they have 
three children, Alice, James and Joseph. 

Addison P. Thomas grew to manhood 
on the'honie farm, and was educated in the 
common schools of the locality. Prompted 
by a spirit of patriotism, he joined the boys 
in blue during the Civil war and was in the 
service for six months doing garrison duty 
most of the time. It was in 1864 that he 
enlisted for one hundred days in Company 
unteer Infantry. On receiving an honorable 
discharge from the service, he returned 
home, and continued to work for his father 
until twenty-two years of age, after which 
he rented land and engaged in farming on 
his own account. 

On the 1 8th of February, 1868, Mr. 
Thomas led to the marriage altar Miss Ber- 
nice M. Hiddleson, who was born in Sullivan 
county, Pennsylvania, February 18, 1851, 
a daughter of John and Rosetta (Taylor) 
Hiddleson, also natives of that state, where 
the father died. Later the mother married 
Fletcher Sperry, with whom she came to 
Whiteside county, Illinois, settling in 
Mt. Pleasant township. Mr. Sperry died 
in 1867, but his wife is still living and 
makes her home in Morrison. By her first 
marriage she had four children, of whom 
one died young; Mary died a year after her 
marriage to W^illiam Dillenbeck; and David 
M., who married Elina Heiner, died in 1 897, 
leaving four children, Alice, Iva, Earl and 
Frank. Mrs. Thomas is the only one of 
this family now living. Of the thirteen 
children born to our subject .and his wife 
two died in infancy. The others are as 
follows: Rosa is the wife of Robert James, 
a farmer of Clyde township, and they have 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



43 



one child, Vera B. ; Julia is the wife of 
Louis Emery, of Rock Island, and they 
have one daughter, Cheryal M. ; Delia mar- 
ried John Emory, of Rock Island, and died in 
1895; Fred is at home attending school; 
William assists his father in the work of 
the farm; and Cora, Ella, Allie, Glenn, 
Carl and Neva are all at home. 

For two years after his marriage, Mr. 
Thomas rented a farm in this county, and 
then, having been successful, he moved to 
Greene county, Iowa, and purchased eighty 
acres, which he improved and cultivated for 
four years. Selling his property, he re- 
turned to Illinois, and for three years oper- 
ated rented land in Ustick and Mt. Pleasant 
township. In 1877 he purchased one hun- 
dred and twenty acres of partially improved 
land in Lyndon township, to which he has 
since added twenty-three acres, and as a 
farmer and stock raiser is meeting with 
marked success. 

Religiously, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas are 
both consistent members of the Methodist 
Episcopal church, and socially he belongs 
to Lyndon post, No. 739, G. A. R., and 
the Modern Woodmen camp. No. 72, of 
Lyndon. Politically, he affiliates with the 
Republican party, and taking an active 
interest in educational affairs, he has most 
efficiently filled the offices of school trustee 
and director. 



BULL A. LANGDON, the well-known 
editor and proprietor of the Morrison 
Record, a bright weekly journal, was born 
in Chillicothe, Ohio, October 8, 1869, and 
is a son of Samuel A. and Lucelia (Brewer) 
Langdon, who are represented elsewhere in 
this volume. In 1871 the family came to 
Morrison, Illinois, but a year latter removed 



to a farm in this county, where the father 
made his home until 1894. 

Upon the home farm our subject grew to 
manhood and he acquired a good practical 
education, attending the common schools, 
Di.xon College and the Sterling high school. 
In 1890 he embarked in the florist's business 
in Sterling, where here mained until the spring 
of 1892, when he rented his father's farm, 
which comprises three hundred and twenty- 
si.x acres and is one of the most desirable 
places of its size in the county. After suc- 
cessfully operating the farm, he returned to 
Morrison in the spring of 1894, and pur- 
chased a half interest in the Record in 
August of the same year, his partner being 
H. E. Brown. Together they conducted 
the paper until the ist of January, 1897, 
when our subject bought out Mr. Brown 
and has since been alone in business. He 
has met with e.xcellent success as a journal- 
ist and is now at the head of one of the 
most prominent papers of the county. It is 
an eight-page sheet, and under his able 
management enjoys a large and constantly 
increasing circulation. The paper was 
started March 17, 1894, and Mr. Langdon 
has practically been with it since its incep- 
tion. On the 14th of September, 1892, he 
married Miss Hattie Swarthout. 



WILLIAM A. BESWICK is one of the 
most prominent and influential citi- 
zens of Clyde township, where he owns a 
valuable and highly improved farm on sec- 
tions 29, 30 and 31. There he was born 
January i, 1850, a son of Richard and Han- 
nah (Knight) Beswick. The father was a 
nati\e of Scaiboro, Yorkshire. England, and 
a son of George and Elizabeth (Naggs) Bes- 
wick, old time yeomanry or farming people 



44 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



of that country, who came to Canada, set- 
tling near Toronto Bay. After a short time 
there they came to the United States in 
1838, coming direct to Whiteside county 
and locating on the farm where our subject 
now resides. In their family were six chil- 
dren who reached years of maturity. Rich- 
ard Beswick was nineteen years of age when 
he crossed the Atlantic with his parents to 
Canada, having previously been educated 
in the schools of his native land. Shortly 
after his arrival he married Miss Sarah Pat- 
rick, by whom he had two children: Belin- 
da, who married Richard Trye and died in 
Union county. South Dakota, in the spring 
of 1899, leaving two children; and George, 
who died unmarried at Camp Rollo, Mis- 
souri, while a soldier of the Union army. 
Mr. Beswick made his home with his par- 
ents near Toronto, Canada, until 1838, 
when he came to Whiteside county, Illinois, 
and took up one hundred and twenty acres 
of government land in Clyde township, to 
the improvement and cultivation of which 
he at once turned his attention. Shortly 
after locating here his house was destroyed 
by fire in the night and he was forced to 
erect another. He hauled his first load of 
wheat to market in Chicago, and he and his 
family endured all the hardships and priva- 
tions incident to pioneer life. He continued 
to reside upon his farm until his death, at 
which time he owned three hundred and 
twenty acres of land in Clyde township. 
Mrs. Beswick died about 1844, and MarcTi 
24, 1849, Mr. Beswick was again married, 
his second union being with Mrs. Hannah 
E. (Knight) Humphrey, widow of Alvaro 
Humphrey, by whom she had two children, 
but one died in infancy, the other being 
George, now a resident of Clinton, Iowa. 
William A., our subject, is the oldest of the 



five children born of the second marriage; 
Thomas L. , deceased, married Sarah Mil- 
lard, who with her eight children resides in 
Clyde township; Elizabeth is the wife of 
William Milnes, of Clyde township, and 
they have two children living; Sarah died at 
the age of four years; and Carrie is the wife 
of Thomas Milnes, and they now reside 
near Chariton, Iowa. The mother was born 
in Waldo county, Maine, March 16, 1821, a 
daughter of George and Lydia (Duncan) 
Knight. Her father was a fisherman in 
Maine, but after his removal to Licking 
county, Ohio, he followed farming. He 
resided there for a few years and then came 
to Whiteside county, Illinois, spending his 
last days in Fulton township, where his 
death occurred February 12, 1866. The 
father of our subject died July 7, 1884, the 
mother January 26, 1895. Both were sin- 
cere Christian people, the former a member 
of the Methodist Episcopal church, while 
the latter was a Presbyterian in religious 
belief. He cast his ballot with the Demo- 
cratic party, and was honored with several 
local offices, having served as school direct- 
or, road commissioner for a number of 
years, and supervisor for fourteen consecu- 
tive years. 

Our subject attended the winter terms 
of school in Clyde township until twenty 
years of age and thus acquired a good prac- 
tice education. After attaining his majority 
he rented a farm from his brother-in-law 
for four years, and then bought twenty 
acres of timberland. After his marriage he 
purchased the eighty-acre tract which he 
had previously rented, and also operated 
three hundred and twenty acres of his 
father's land. To his first purchase he has 
added from time to time until he now has 
three hundred and forty-two acres in one 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



45 



body. He now has one of the finest country 
homes in the county, the improvements 
alone being worth ten thousand dollars, not 
including the value of the land. Although 
he is engaged in general farming, he gives 
the greater part of his time and attention to 
stock raising, making a specialty of Durham 
and short-horn cattle and Poland China 
hogs. For twelve years he has been quite 
extensively engaged in the dairy business, 
and for that purpose generally keeps about 
forty cows. 

On the 1st of January, 1875, Mr. Bes- 
wick was united in marriage with Miss Mary 
M. Wood, who was born in this county, 
April 22, 1854, a daughter of Frederick and 
Sarah (Milnes) Wood. Her father was a 
native of Yorkshire, England, as was also 
his father, Joseph Wood, who on coming 
to the new world first settled in New York 
state but after a short time spent there 
came to Whiteside county, Illinois, at an 
early day. Frederick Wood emigrated to 
America previous to his father and also 
spent a short time in New York, after which 
he came to this county, and located in Clyde 
township. He and his wife are still living 
and now make their home in Morrison. Her 
father, Thomas Milnes, was also a native 
of England, and she was born shortly after 
the emigration of the family to America. 
He made his home in Lowell, Massachu- 
setts, and died while returning east after a 
visit in this county. Mr. Wood is a sup- 
porter of the Republican party, and his wife 
holds membership in the Episcopal church. 
To them were born nine children, namely; 
Mary M., wife of our subject; Joseph, a 
farmer of Clyde township, who married 
Becky King and has two children; Thomas, 
who died in infancy; Thomas, of Clyde 
township, who married Margaret Mason and 



has two children; Sarah, wife of Charles 
Kennedy, of Clyde township, by whom she 
has one child; George, who is engaged in 
the milling business in Montana; William 
H., a farmer of Montana, who married 

Clara and has one child; Susan, wife 

of Robert Cochran, of Morrison; and Edith, 
wife of Pierre Jackson, of Morrison. 

Mr. and Mrs. Beswick have a family of 
seven children: Elmer, born November 24, 
1876, is engaged in farming with his 
mother's brothers in Montana; Lorenzo, 
born'February 14, 1878, assists his father in 
the operation of the home farm Sarah, 
born August 26, 1879, is the wife of Bert 
Burch, of Union Grove township; Richard 
F. , born October 10, 1881, is at home; 
Hannah, born June 21, 1883, and Harold, 
born September 7, 1886, are both attending 
the Morrison high school; and Alvaro, born 
February 12, 1888, is attending the home 
school. 

Mr. Beswick is a director of the Mount 
Pleasant Mutual Fire Insurance Company, 
and is a member of Henderson camp. No. 
13, M. W. A., of Morrison, and the Knights 
of the Globe, while he and his wife belong 
to the Royal Neighbors and she holds 
membership in the Episcopal church. In 
his political views he is a stanch Democrat, 
and he has been honored with a number of 
offices, having served as collector and road 
commissioner three years each. He is now 
fillingthe officeof supervisor for a third term, 
and is chairman of the miscellaneous com- 
mittee and is on the committee on ferries 
and toll bridges. He has also been a mem- 
ber of two special bridge committees on two 
different occasions and was instrumental in 
building a number of iron bridges in the 
county. He is public-spirited and progress- 
ive and willingly gives his support to every 



46 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



enterprise which he believes will prove of 
public benefit, and is therefore numbered 
among the valued citizens of his com- 
munity. 



JAMES A. NOWLEN, M. D. , is en- 
gaged in the practice of medicine and 
surgery in Morrison, Illinois, and is now the 
oldest physician of the place in point of 
practice. He has that love for and devo- 
tion to his profession which have brought to 
him success and won him a place among 
the ablest representatives of the medical 
fraternity in this locality. 

The Doctor was born April 6, 1853, at 
Canaan Corners, Wayne county, Ohio, nine 
miles from Wooster, and is a son of Dr. 
Arthur and Asenith (Proctor) Nowlen, both 
natives of Ontario, Canada. The father 
was born near Prescott, August 13, 18 18, 
and in early life took up the study of med- 
icine. He was married in his native prov- 
ince and continued to reside there until 
after the birth of three of his children, while 
two others were born in Ohio. He at- 
tended lectures at Montreal, Canada, and 
for three years engaged in the practice of 
his profession at Canaan Corners, Ohio. 
In September, 1853, he came to White- 
side county, Illinois, and located at Union- 
ville, which was one mile from the present 
city of Morrison, at that time non-existent. 
There he engaged in successful practice until 
i860, when he removed to Morrison, which 
at that time was growing rapidly and was 
in a flourishing condition. During his early 
residence here his practice extended over a 
wide range of territory and for weeks at a 
time our subject did not see him, as he 
would leave before daylight and return 
after the children were asleep. He trav- 



eled everywhere on horseback and often 
rode as far as Prophetstown andMt. Carroll 
in answer to calls for professional service. 
He had the leading practice of this section 
for many years. He was a successful busi- 
ness man as well as a skilled physician and 
owned considerable farm lands in White- 
side county at an early day. He was one 
of the first members of the Rock River 
Medical Society and took an active interest 
in the same. He retired from practice in 
1880, and moved to Des Moines, Iowa, 
where he died September 7, 1897. His 
wife died in 1888. Both held membership 
in the Methodist Episcopal church, and 
were highly respected by all who knew 
them. 

Our subject acquired his education in the 
common and high schools of Morrison, and 
in 1 87 1 and 1872 read medicine with his 
father. The following year he entered Rush 
Medical College, Chicago, from which he 
was graduated in 1875, and was then en- 
gaged in practice with his father at Morrison 
until the latter's retirement, since which 
time he has been alone. Besides his city 
practice he had an extensive country practice 
for six or eight years and traveled through- 
out this section of the state wherever his 
services were needed. He took a post- 
graduate course at the medical department 
of the University of New York City in the 
winter of 1882-3, and is now one of the 
most successful and prominent physicians 
of Morrison. 

Dr. Nowlen first married Miss Eva R. 
Kidd, of Morrison, who died leaving no chil- 
dren, and on the 28th of April, 1885, he 
led to the marriage altar Miss Louisa J. 
Huncler, of the same place. By the second 
union five children have been born, namely: 
Bessie J., Proctor, Gladys, James C. 



THE BiOGRAPHiCAL RECORD. 



47 



and Mary. The family have a pleasant 
home on East Grove street, and they at- 
tend and support the Presbyterian church. 
The Doctor is a prominent member of the 
Whiteside County Medical Society, and has 
been connected with Dunlap lodge, F. & 
A. M., since 1874. As a physician he 
stands high in professional circles, and as a 
citizen is honored and respected wherever 
known. 



THOMAS EAGAN. It is said that biog- 
raphy yields to no other subject in 
point of interest and profit, and it is espec- 
ially interesting to note the progress that 
has been made along various lines of busi- 
ness by those of foreign birth who have 
sought homes in America — the readiness 
with which they adapt themselves to the 
different methods and customs of America, 
recognize the advantages offered and utilize 
the opportunities which the new world af- 
fords. We find in Thomas Eagan, a well- 
known farmer, residing on section 3 i. Union 
Grove township, a worthy representative of 
this class. 

A native of Ireland, he was born in 
Loughrea, County Galway, December 20, 
1822, and is a son of Matthew and Hannah 
(Griffin) Eagon. He grew to manhood in 
his native land, receiving such an education 
as the public schools of the country afforded 
at that day, and at the age of twenty-si.\ he 
came to America. After spending about 
four years in Connecticut, he came to Illi- 
nois in 1854, and took up his residence in 
Albany, Whiteside county. Later he lived 
in Garden Plain, and in the fall of 1861 
purchased eighty acres of land on section 
31, Union Grove township, where he still 
resides. He has extended the boundaries 



of his farm from time to time as his finan- 
cial resources have merited until he now 
has four hundred and twelve acres of valu- 
able and highly productive land, which he 
has placed under a high state of cultivation. 
He has devoted his time and abilities to 
general farming and stock raising, feeding 
a large number of cattle and hogs each 
year. 

On the loth of October, 1854, Mr. 
Eagon was united in marriage, in New York 
City, with Miss Alice Ryan, also a native of 
Ireland, and a daughter of Thomas and 
Hannah (Eagon) Ryan. She came to the 
new world in October, 1851. To our sub- 
ject and his wife have been born eight chil- 
dren: John P., at home; Mary, a resident 
of Clinton, Illinois; Alice, who died at the 
age of eleven years; Martin, who married 
Alice Smith, died in Union township, Octo- 
ber 27, 1899; Edward, at home; Margaret, 
wife of Natalian Waltham, of Clinton; Eliz- 
abeth and James, both at home. The par- 
ents are both devout members of the Cath- 
olic church and merit and receive the re- 
spect and esteem of all who know them. 
In his political views, Mr. Eagan is a stal- 
wart Democrat, but has never been an office 
seeker, preferring to devote his undivided 
attention to his business interest. 



SAMUEL L. MURPHY, a well-known 
farmer and stock raiser residing on sec- 
tion 21, Ustick township, was born in Gar- 
den Plain township, this county, August 28, 
1864, and is a worthy representative of one 
of its honored pioneer families. His grand- 
father, Jacob Murphy, a native of Ohio, 
came to Illinois at an early day and settled 
in Garden Plain township, Whiteside county, 
where he followed farming for some years. 



48 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



There he died and was buried. His first 
wife passed away twenty or twenty-five 
years before, leaving five children, two sons 
and three daughters, of whom Robert R. , 
the father of our subject, is the oldest. 
(2) Mary is the wife of David Mitchell, a 
grocer of Fulton, by whom she had four 
children, three still living, namely: Charles, 
a civil engineer of Chicago; and Minnie and 
William, both of Fulton. (3) Maria is the 
wife of Morgan McFarland, a farmer and 
stock raiser of Villa Grove, Colorado. (4) 
Rebecca is unmarried and lives with her 
sister, Mrs. McFarland, in Colorado. (5) 
Dyer, a resident of Garden Plain, married 
Dora Knowlton, who died leaving three 
children, Horace, Harvey and Lura, and 
for his second wife he married Mrs. Lavina 
Woods. The grandfather of our subject 
was twice married, and by the second wife 
had two children: Ethel Linda, who mar- 
ried Edgar Florence and died in 1875 or'76, 
and John, a merchant of liagley, Iowa, who 
is married and has four children: Lawrence, 
Ray, John and Bessie. 

Robert R. Murphy, father of our subject, 
was born near Portsmouth, Ohio, in 1834, 
and when a young man came to Whiteside 
county, Illinois, locating in Garden Plain 
township, where he conducts a farm and is 
also successfully operating the Garden Plain 
Creamery. His political support is always 
given the Republican party, and being one 
of the prominent and influential men of his 
township, he has been honored with numer- 
ous local offices, including that of supervisor, 
in which he served for two terms. He 
married Miss Eliza J. Armstrong, a native 
of Pennsylvania, who at an early day came 
with her parents to Albany, Whiteside 
county, Illinois, where her marriage was 
celebrated. By this union five children 



were born, namely: Addie is the wife of 
E. A. Harrington, a telegraph operator of 
Peru, Illinois, by whom she has two chil- 
dren, Fay and Ruth; Edgar, who operates 
a creamery in Hartwick, Iowa, married 
Kate Baker and has three children: Vernon, 
Floyd and Hazel; Samuel L., our subject, 
is the next of the family; Bertha is the 
wife of George Dunshee, a farmer of York 
township, Carroll county, Illinois; and Frank 
assists his father in business and resides at 
the old home in Garden Plain township. 
The mother of these children died in 1878, 
and for his second wife the father married 
Lurinda Cosselman, a native of Ustick 
township. 

The subject of this review received his 
education in the Garden Plain public school, 
and remained at home until twenty-two 
years of age, when he came to Ustick to 
take charge of the Spring Valley Creamery 
that was owned by his father. He had 
operated it seveial years before and at this 
time had charge of the plant for eight 
years, doing a successful and profitable busi- 
ness. At the end of that time he sold out. 
On the 3d of October, 1888, was celebrated 
his marriage with Miss Virginia Durward, 
by whom he has four children: Pearl, 
Lepha, Devenia and Robert R. 

After his marriage Mr. Murphy located 
on the farm which he had previously pur- 
chased, and upon which he had erected a 
good modern residence and made other im- 
provements. This place consisted of thirty- 
seven acres adjoining the creamery, but he 
has since sold half of it and now operates 
rented land belonging to his father-in-law. 
He carried on a general farming and stock 
raising with good success, making a spec- 
iality of Jersey cattle, and he also deals in 
horses, selling to the local trade. In con- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



49 



nection with his other business he ran a 
threshing^ machine for a short time. He is 
a prominent member of Ustick lodge, No. 
9, M}stic Workers of the World, in which 
he has held office, and is identified with the 
Republican party, but has never aspired to 
political honors. 



FRANK FITZGERALD, M. D. Among 
those who devote their time and ener- 
gies to the practice of medicine and have 
gained a leading place in the ranks of the 
profession is Dr. Fitzgerald, a prominent 
phjsician and surgeon of Morrison. He 
was born in Cherry Valley, New York, April 
5, 1857, a son of Alfred and Sarah (Wilkins) 
Fitzgerald. The father was a carriage 
maker of that place, where he made his 
home until his death, which occurred in 
1885. The mother is still living in Cherry 
Valley. The paternal grandfather, Fitz- 
william Fitzgerald, a descendant of Edward 
Fitzgerald, of England, came from that 
country to America and engaged in wagon 
making at Cherry Valley, New York, where 
he built up a good business. The maternal 
grandfather, Daniel Wilkins, was a black- 
smith and a fine mechanic of considerable 
inventive genius. One of his brothers was 
a prominent divine in England, and he was 
also being educated for a clergyman, but 
not liking the idea he ran away from home 
and came to the United States; he died at 
Cherry Valley when our subject was quite 
small. 

During his boyhood Dr. Fitzgerald at- 
tended the common schools of his native 
place and also a select or parish school. At 
the age of fifteen he came alone to Morri- 
son, Illinois, and foimd employment in the 
drug store of John S. Green, where he re- 



mained for eleven years, having complete 
charge of the same from 1876, at the age 
of nineteen, until 1883. During that time 
a larger amount of business was transacted 
over its counter than at any time in recent 
years. On account of his health, Dr. Fitz- 
gerald was at length forced to resign his 
position, and he then commenced the study 
of medicine with his father-in-law. Dr. Sam- 
uel Taylor, who came to Erie from Richland 
county, Ohio, and after staying there several 
years removed to Morrison, and was engaged 
in active practice up to the time of his 
death, which occurred January 30, 1890. 
After reading with him one year, our sub- 
ject entered Rush Medical College, Chica- 
go, from which he was graduated with the 
class of 1886. Returning to Morrison he 
engaged in practice with his preceptor until 
the latter's death, and has since been alone. 
He enjoys a large general practice which 
extends throughout the surrounding country 
twelve or fifteen miles in every direction, 
and he is also local surgeon for the Chicago 
& Northwestern Railroad Company. He 
has done considerable surgical work for the 
company besides a large amount in the city. 
He is a member of the old County Medical 
Society and of the International Association 
of Railway Surgeons, and has attended 
many of their meetings. He also belongs 
to Dunlap lodge, F. & A. M., and his wife 
attends the Presbyterian church. 

On the 30th of October, 1879, Dr. 
Fitzgerald was united in marriage with Miss 
Evaline Martha Taylor, by whom he has 
had two children, but Stella, the elder, died 
at the age of eighteen months. The only 
one now living is Samuel Taylor Fitzgerald. 
The Doctor is a pleasant, genial gentleman, 
who makes many friends, and is quite pop- 
ular socially. 



so 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



WESLEY Y. HENDRICKS. Among 
the leading and representative citi- 
zens of Ustick township there is none who 
stands a more prominent figure than the 
gentleman whose name introduces this 
sketch. He makes his home on section 14, 
where he owns a well-improved and highly 
cultivated farm, which under his able man- 
agement is made to yield bountiful harvests 
in return for the labor bestowed upon it. 

A native of Whiteside county, Mr. Hen- 
dricks was born in Sterling November 3, 
1857, and belongs to a family of Holland 
origin that was founded in Pennsylvania 
several generations ago. Most of his an- 
cestors have been farmers, though his pater- 
nal grandfather was a prominent business 
man of Philadelphia, conducting the leading 
market of that city during his time. Later 
in life he and his wife came west and located 
in Sterling, where both died. Of their chil- 
dren, Leonard, father of our subject, was 
the eldest; John is now engaged in the real 
estate business in Dodge City, Kansas; 
Ephraim is a retired farmer of Cawker City, 
Kansas, who has four children, Allin, Frank, 
John and Charles; Sabila married S. Gear- 
hart, a watchmaker, now deceased, and she 
died in 1889, leaving two children, Lizzie 
and Samuel; Rebecca was the wife of 
David Meyers, of Sterling, and died in 1879, 
leaving several children; Samuel is a resi- 
dent of Rockford, Illinois, and has nine 
children, one of whom, Harry, was with 
Roosevelt's Rough Riders in the war with 
Spain, and was wounded in an engagement, 
but recovered. 

Leonard Hendricks, father of our sub- 
ject, was born in Pennsylvania in 1822, 
and in Montgomery county, that state, he 
was married, to Miss Margaret Rebecca 
Young, also a native of the Keystone state. 



where her parents spent their entire lives. 
Her father was a miller by trade. She was 
the eldest in a family of three children, the 
others being Mary, who wedded Samuel 
Krout and remained in the east, where she 
died in July, 1899, and her husband about 
1879; and Benjamin, who lived and died in 
Indiana. 

While a resident of Pennsylvania the 
father of our subject worked at the mill- 
wright's and carpenter's trade, and contin- 
ued to follow those occupations for several 
years after his removal to Sterling, Illinois, 
but in 1868 he purchased a farm of eighty 
acres in Clyde township and turned his at- 
tention to agricultural pursuits, operating 
the same with the aid of his sons. He died 
in December, 1891, honored and respected 
by all who knew him, but his wife, who 
was born January 1, 1819, is still living and 
enjoys good health. She makes her home 
with our subject. Of the eight children 
born to this worthy couple, Sophia died at 
the age of five years, and Sarah died at the 
age of seventeen. The others reached years 
of maturity and are as follows: (i) Eliza, 
who died in 1886, was the wife of J. Eshl- 
man, by whom she had four children and 
two are still living in and near Sterling. 
One son, Roy, a druggist, was a bugler of 
Company E, Si.\th Illinois Volunteer In- 
fantry, during our recent war with Spain, 
and was taken ill at Porto Rica and 
brought to Camp Alger, where he died in 
1899. (2) Isaiah, livin,:; on the Teller 
place in Clyde township, is married and has 
six children: Annie, Bessie, Sarah, Ruth, 
Dorothy and Salem. (3) Mary is the wife 
of Levi Leatherman, who is engaged in 
farming to a limited extent on rented land 
in Lyndon township, and they have four 
children; Alta, Alma, Lulu and Ray. (4) 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



5' 



Jesse, who is engaged in general farming, 
and the fruit and nursery business in Carroll 
county, Iowa, is married and has three chil- 
dren: Earl, Hazel and Hart. (5) Wesley 
^'. , our subject, is the next of the family. 
(6) Jacob, a farmer and well driller, of 
Scranlon, Greene county, Iowa, is married 
and has two children, Hazel and Cleo. 

The subject of this sketch was educated 
in the public schools of Jordan and Clyde 
townships, and remained on the home farm 
until the father sold the place in 1876. 
During the following year he worked by the 
month as a farm hand, and when his father 
purchased ten acres for a homestead, he 
turned his attention to its improvement and 
cultivation. Subsequently he worked by the 
month for five years, and then operated 
rented land for a year. In 1883 he pur- 
chased forty acres of partially improved 
land, for which he paid thirteen hundred 
and fifty dollars, and besides this property 
he owned five acres of timber land in Clyde 
township. 

On the 29th of July, 1884, Mr. Hen- 
dricks wedded Miss Mary E. Durward, who 
was born March 24, i860, a daughter of 
Peter T. and Janet Durward, whose sketch 
appears on another page of this volume. 
They now have two children: Edna B., 
born October 13, 1885; and Ralph Dur- 
ward, born August 23, 1887. 

After his marriage Mr. Hendricks lived 
upon his farm until 1888, when he sold the 
place and moved to Carroll county, Iowa, 
where he bought eighty acres and success- 
fully operated the same for seven 3-ears. At 
the end of that time he sold out and re- 
turned to Whiteside county, Illinois. For 
one year he lived on a place north of his 
present farm, and in 1896 purchased one 
hundred and fifteen acres of the old home- 



stead, where he has since engaged in gen- 
eral farming and stock raising with marked 
success. Politically he is an ardent sup- 
porter of the Republican party, and he has 
held township offices such as collector, con- 
stable and road overseer, the duties of which 
he has most capably and satisfactorily dis- 
charged. He contributes to the support of 
the Presbyterian church, to which his wife 
belongs, and his aid is never withheld from 
any enterprise calculated to prove of public 
benefit. 



CHARLES F. REYNOLDS, one of the 
most progressive andenterprisingyoung 
farmers of Mt. Pleasant township, where he 
and his brother operate two hundred and fort}' 
acres of land on section 2, was born in that 
township, July 28, 1872. His father. He- "~\^ 
man A;__Rey.iiQl^, was born in Rutland 
county, Vermont, January 14, 1836, a son 
of Raymond A. and Nancy (Brown) Rey- 
nolds, the former a native of the same 
place, the latter of eastern Canada. In 
early life the grandfather of our subject 
followed the blacksmith's trade. In 1855 
he removed to Kane county, Illinois, and 
two years later came to Whiteside county, 
where he began his career as a farmer. At 
the time of his death, which occurred in 
1885, he was living retired in Unionville. 
His wife died at the same place in 1887. 
The father of our subject was the second 
in order of birth in their family of four 
children, the others being Susan, who mar- 
ried A. W. Champlin and died in Union 
Grove township; Adelia E , widow of Clark 
F"isk, and a resident of Unionville; and one 
who died young. In the county of his na- 
tivity, Heman A. Reynolds received a good 
common-school education. He came to 



52 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Illinois with his parents and is still living on 
the old home farm, which his son now carry 
on. He first purchased seventy-five acres 
in 1877, but has added to it from time to 
time until he now has two hundred and 
forty acres, which he has placed under a 
high state of cultivation and improved with 
good buildings. In the past few years he 
has converted his place into a stock farm 
and now feeds all his grain to his cattle and 
hogs. Politically he is a Democrat and on 
the money question favors a gold standard. 

In 1862, Heman A. Reynolds wedded 
Miss Mary E. Reynolds, who was born in 
Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, Janu- 
ary 21, 1846, a daughter of Philip and 
Nancy (Fisk) Reynolds, natives of New 
York and Vermont, respectively, who, in 
1854, moved to Lyndon, Whiteside county, 
Illinois. Here her mother died, but her fa- 
ther died in De Kalb county, this state, 
while on a visit. They had but two chil- 
dren, the only son being James, a resident 
of Livingston county, Illinois. Our subject 
is one of a family of three children, but 
one son died in infancy. Martin W., the 
older of the two now living, resides on the 
home farm which he operates in connection 
with our subject. He married Emily C. 
Hammer and has one child, Edna M. 

Charles F. Reynolds, whose name intro- 
duces this sketch, attended the common 
schools near his boyhood home and for two 
terms pursued an elective course at Fulton 
College during the winters of 1891 and 1893. 
When old enough to be of any assistance 
he commenced to aid in the work of the 
home farm, and there he has since carried 
on operations as a general farmer and stock 
raiser. In the management of the place he 
has displayed good business ability and 
sound judgment, and success has attended 



his efforts. He is a Democrat in politics, 
but is not radical, and endeavors to support 
the best men for the office regardless of 
party ties. 

On the 6th of March, 1895, Mr. Rey- 
nolds was united in marriage with Miss 
Lillie A. James, who was born December 
20, 1874, a daughter of Amos A. and Ann 
(Norrish) James, a sketch of whom will be 
found on another page of this volume. They 
began their domestic life in a house on his 
father's farm, and there they have since re- 
sided. Two children have come to brighten 
their home, namely: Mabel A. and Paul- 
ine E. 



JOHN FROST. One of the active, prom- 
inent and enterprising citizens of 
Union Grove township. \\'hiteside county, 
is the gentleman whose naine introduces 
this sketch, and who is successfully 
engaged in agricultural pursuits on sec- 
tion 17. He was born in Islham, Chamb- 
shire, England, August 12, 1828, a son of 
James and Mary (King) Frost, the former a 
native of the same place, the latter of Freck- 
enham, England, where their marriage was 
celebrated. They spent their entire lives 
in England, the father working as a laborer 
in different places. He died at Baden, 
Mills at the age of eighty years, and the 
mother died at the same place at the age of 
seventy years; in their family were seven 
children, namely: John, James. Henry, 
Esther, Ellen, Mary Ann, William and 
Sarah, three of whom are now deceased. 
Besides our subject, William, who lives 
near Le Mars, Iowa, is the only resident 
of this country. 

During his boyhood John Frost acquired 
the rudiments of an education in the public 




JOHN FROST. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



55 



schools of his native land and remained in 
that country until after his marriage. On 
the i8th of July, 1852, he led to the mar- 
riage altar Miss Ann l-'letcher, who was also 
born in Islam, September 16, 1829, a 
daughter of William and Sarah (Wells) 
Fletcher. She is one of a family of twelve 
children, of whom five are now living in the 
United States, namely: Mrs. Esther Stin- 
ton, of Morrison, Illinois; Mrs. Sophia 
Deman, of Union Grove township, White- 
side county; Mrs. Rebecca Weathers, of 
Nebraska; William Fletcher of Union Grove 
township; and Ann, wife of our subject, 
James, the only child born to Mr. and Mrs. 
Frost, died in infancy. They have two 
adopted children: Edith, now the wife of 
James Pearson, of Union Grove townsoip; 
and Herbert H., who aids his father in the 
operation of the home farm. He married 
Miss Jennie Pierault, and three children 
have been born to them, Edith and Eva, 
twins, who are living, and one son, de- 
ceased. 

Two years after his marriage Mr. Frost 
emigrated to America and settled in Union- 
ville, Illinois, where he made his home from 
1855 to 1857, and then removed to the 
farm on section 17, Union Grove township, 
Whiteside county, which he now owns. At 
first he rented the place, but in 1868 pur- 
chased it. It comprises one hundred and 
twenty acres of rich and arable land, which 
he has placed under a high state of cultiva- 
tion, and has made many improvements 
thereon which add greatly to its value and 
attractive appearance. He follows general 
farming and stock raising and success has 
attended his efforts toward securing a com- 
petence. He started out in life for himself 
empty-handed, and the prosperity that has 
come to him is due entirely to his own in- 



dustry; perseverance and good management 
On locating here much of the county was 
still in its primitive condition, and he has 
watched with interest the wonderful trans- 
formation that has since taken place, while 
he has been no unimportant factor in its ad- 
vancement. He affiliations with the Re- 
publican party, and both he and his wife are 
consistent and faithful members of the Bap- 
tist church of Morrison. 



BURRELL V. DANIELS, a leading 
farmer of Union Grove township, 
Whiteside county, whose home is on section 
5, evidences by the manner in which he 
carries on his business that he thoroughly 
understands the vocation in which he is en- 
gaged, and that success is attending his ef- 
forts toward acquiring a competence. Neat- 
ness and order prevail upon his place, which 
is managed, with regard to its cultivation, 
in a manner which reflects great credit upon 
the owner. 

Mr. Daniels was born in lower Canada, 
February 14, 1833, a son of Asa and Almira 
(Vance) Daniels, natives of Vermont. The 
maternal uncle, Burrell Vance, was a sol- 
dier of the war of 18 12. Our subject's pa- 
ternal grandparents died before his birth. 
The father worked at the stonemason's trade 
to some extent, but his principal occupation 
was that of farming. In early life he and 
his wife moved to Ascot, Churbruck county. 
Lower Canada, where he followed farming, 
and from there went to Massachusetts. A 
year or so later, in 1846, they came to 
Whiteside county, Illinois, and took up their 
residence in Lyndon township, where the 
father purchased land and engaged in farm- 
ing for a short time. He next made his 
home in Ustick township, where he entered 



56 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



forty acres, and later a like amount, and 
afterward bought another tract. Upon that 
farm he spent his remaining days. He was 
born July 4, 1798, and was accidentally 
killed by falling from a load of hay, April 
15, 1874. His wife was born October 15, 
1 80 1, and died Februaay 19, 1897. I" 
their family were seven children, namely: 
David, a resident of Clinton, Iowa; Warner, 
who was killed by an engine on the North- 
western Railroad tracks in Ustick township; 
Amos, a resident of Rowley, Massachusetts; 
Asel, twin brother of Amos, deceased; Syl- 
via, deceased wife of William Campfield, 
also deceased; Burrell V., oar subject; Mar- 
tha, wife of Charles Shew, a resident of 
Clinton, Iowa; and one who died in infancy 
unnamed. 

After his father's removal to Illinois Bur- 
rell V. Daniels remained in the east until 
sixteen years of age, at which time he also 
determined to come west. Selling his three- 
year-old colt for twenty-four dollars he came 
to this state by way of the great lakes 
to Racine, Wisconsin, and from there on 
foot to Whiteside county. On his arrival 
he worked for his father until twenty years 
of age, and then purchased an unbroken 
tract of fort}' acres in Union Grove town- 
ship, to the cultivation and improvement of 
which he at once turned his attention. He 
has extended the boundaries of his farm 
from time to time as his financial resources 
permitted until he now has three hundred 
and twelve acres, which he has placed under 
a high state of cultivation and improved 
with good buildings. He follows mixed 
farming, and is meeting with well-deserved 
success. In his political affiliations he is a 
Republican. 

On the 14th of February, 1855, Mr. 
Daniels was united in marriage with Miss 



Mary Cass, who was born in Vermont June, 
1836, a daughter of Josiah and Sallie Cass, 
also natives of that state. The father, who 
was a farmer by occupation, brought his 
family to Illinois in 1854, and settled in 
Union Grove township, Whiteside county, 
where both he and his wife died. To Mr. 
and Mrs. Daniels were born three children: 
(i) Wallace, a farmer of Union Grove, mar- 
ried Jessie Somers, and has three children. 
Royal, .\iny and Fernie. (2) Adelbert, a 
farmer of Union Grove township, married 
Lucy Seaman, and has three children, Neva, 
Earl and Howard. (3) Wyman died at the 
age of a year and a half. 



WILLIAM O. DUDLEY was one of 
the pioneers of Whiteside county, lo- 
cating here in 1836, and here spending the 
remainder of his life, respected by all who 
knew him. He was a native of Massachu- 
setts, born in Richmond, Berkshire county, 
December 24, 1803. He grew to manhood 
in his native state, and with a view of bet- 
tering his condition in life, determined to 
seek a home farther west. From Massachu- 
setts he went to Ohio, where he remained a 
short time engaged in teaching. In 1836, 
in company with several other persons, he 
came to Whiteside county, Illinois, with a 
view of here making his permanent home. 
One year later he was married to Miss 
Louisa Dudley, their marriage being cele- 
brated October 18, 1837. She was a native 
of New York, born in Clarendon, Orleans 
county, July 9, 1818, and who, in 1835, 
came to Whiteside county with her parents, 
William D. and Tryphena (Fitch) Dudley, 
who were natives of New England. They 
were numbered among the very earliest set- 
tlers of the county, coming here in 1835. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



57 



Of their children only two were living at the 
time they came to this county, Louisa and 
her brother, William Chester, who now lives 
in Lawrence, Kansas. 

Timothy Dudley, the father of William 
O., also came to Whiteside county, emigrat- 
ing here in 1837, with two of his children, 
Eliza and Henry. A year later, Jane Dud- 
ley Newhall came, and later on, Ann, wife 
of Marcus Sperry, settled here. All the 
family came prior to 1840, but none are 
now living in the county. \\'illiam Wade 
Dudley, a nephew of William O. Dudley, 
and a son of John Dudley, was one of the 
heroes of the Civil war. He organized a 
company, with which he entered the service, 
but by his bravery and gallantry he was pro- 
moted colonel of the regiment. 

After their marriage, William O. Dudley 
and wife located on the farm about one mile 
from the present homestead, and later moved 
to the farm now occupied by our subject, 
which was his home until his death, April 
15, 1888. He was a member of the Con- 
gregational church, and was quite active in 
its work. His wife is also a member of that 
denomination. In politics he was a Repub- 
lican, and in his township was regarded as 
one of its leading citizens. His widow now 
resides on the old family homestead of her 
father, and where she was united in marriage. 
To William O. and Louisa Dudley seven 
children were born. James H., the eldest 
child, enlisted in the service of his country 
in the beginning of the war, at which time 
he was in college. He served until the close 
of his term of service, and came home and 
died in 1861. Frances R. died June 16, 
1850, when only nine years old. Jane mar- 
ried h'rank K. Arnold, by whom she had 
four children — Roy D., Nellie R. , Clyde, 
and Nettie Jane, deceased. They resided 



in Sterling, where her death occurred in 
1897. Eliza O. is the wife of James A. 
Meigham, and they have five children living- 
Anna F. , George E., Charles A., Ruth and 
Nellie. They reside in Fenton township, 
where Mr. Meigham is engaged in farming. 
George T. married Kittie Hough, and they 
have four children — William H., Jennie, 
Frank and Theresa. The\' make their home 
in Sterling, where he is engaged in running 
a meat market. Anna L. makes her home 
with her mother. John is the subject of 
this sketch. 

John Dudley, who was born July 15, 
I 858, was reared on the old home farm, and 
has spent his entire life in Whiteside coun- 
ty, with the exception of four months, in 
1883, when he was in California. In the 
common schools of his native township he 
received his education, but in the school of 
experience the greater part of his knowledge 
has been obtained. He continued with his 
father until he was twenty-one years of age, 
when he was given charge of the farm, 
since which time he has had the entire man- 
agement of it. Since the death of his father 
he has made many improvements of a sub- 
stantial nature on the old place, and has 
now one of the best farms in the town- 
ship. 

On the 7th of January, 1888, Mr. 
Dudley was united in marriage with Miss 
Elsie A. Hazzard, who was born in Lyndon 
township, October 14, 1866, and daughter 
of .Mbert S. and Eudora (Bartholomew) 
Hazzard, the former a native of Lyndon 
township, Whiteside county, Illinois, and 
and the latter of Ohio. They now reside 
in Low Moor, Iowa. They were the par- 
ents of six children, of whom one died in in- 
fancy, and one daughter, Jennie, when 
twenty-six years of age. Of the living, Elsie 



58 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



is the wife of our subject. Edward L. 
married Mary Brazell, and they have three 
children, Neal, Ruth and an infant. They 
now reside in Low Moor, CHnton county, 
Iowa. OHvia is the wife of Fred Mont- 
gomery, and they reside in St. Louis. 
Ceiia M. died October 12, 1889. To Mr. 
and Mrs. Dudley three children have been 
born: Fred A., January 13, 1890; Charles 
E. ,July 13, 1892; and Florence E., May 
17, 1896. 

After his marriage Mr. Dudley brought 
his wife to the old homestead, which he has 
since conti oiled. In his farming operations, 
which are of general a nature, he has met 
with a fair degree of success. Politically he 
is a Republican, but he has never made 
politics the ruling spirit of his life, prefer- 
ring to give his entire time and attention to 
his farming interests. He has served as 
school trustee, because of his interest in the 
public schools. Fraternally he is a mem- 
ber of Myndon lodge. No. 41, Mystic 
Workers of the World. 



JOHN P. BICKERT, deceased, was for 
many years one of the important fac- 
tors in the business circles of Morrison, and 
his life was an exemplification of the term 
"the dignity of labor." The possibilities 
that America offers to her citizens he util- 
ized, and though he came to this country 
in limited circumstances he steadily and 
perseveringly worked his way upward, leav- 
ing the ranks of the many to stand among 
the successful few. 

Mr. Bickert was born in Fulda, Ger- 
many, June 22, 1832, and was reared and 
educated in his native land. At the age of 
seventeen he emigrated to America, and in 
early life worked as a laborer in Virginia 



and Pennsylvania. In the latter state he 
learned the shoemaker's trade which he 
followed for several years before coming 
west. It was in 1856 that he became a 
resident of Whiteside county, Illinois. He 
lived for a short time in Sterling, then 
removed to Fulton, and in the spring of 
1858 took up his residence in Morrison. 
He worked at his trade for S. W. Johnston 
until April, i860, when he bought out his 
employer and engaged in the boot and shoe 
business on his own account until 1874. 
During that year he purchased a farm in 
Union Grove township and turned his at- 
tention to agricultural pursuits, which he 
successfully carried on for some years, but 
finally sold the farm and returned to Mor- 
rison. In 1883, in partnership with his son- 
in-law, H. H. Peterson, he again embarked 
in the boot and shoe business, in which he 
continued until 1890, when he retired from 
business, having amassed a fortune in his 
trade. 

In Morrison, April 22, 1862, Mr. Bick- 
ert was united in marriage with Miss Mary 
Ann Blose, who died February 11, 1864, 
leaving one daughter, Carrie, now the wife 
H. H. Peterson, of Morrison. They have 
four children, namely: John B., Mary J., 
Charles F. and Emerson B. Mr. Bickert 
was again married, October 10, 1879, his 
second union being with Mrs. Jennie Du- 
four, who was born in Tompkins county. 
New York, October 8, 1843, a daughter of 
George and Ruth Hopkins. Her father 
was born in Connecticut and was able to 
trace his ancestry back to one by the name 
of Hopkins who came to this country on the 
Mayflower. His father, George Hopkins, 
served through the war of 181 2. Steven A.' 
Hopkins, one of the signers of the Declara- 
tion of Independence, was a great-great- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



59 



uncle of Mrs. Bickert. In 1855 she came 
west with her aunt, Sarah Chandler, who 
died four days after their arrival in Lee 
county, Illinois, and she then lived with 
her uncle, Thomas Hopkins, for a number 
of years. 

Besides, his town property, Mr. Bickert 
owned about five hundred acres of land at 
the time of his death. On the 25th of Sep- 
tember, 1 891, while superintending the tear- 
ing down of a building upon his farm, he 
met with a serious accident, breaking the 
thigh of his right leg, and the ankle of the 
left foot, from the effects of which he never 
recovered. He died October 26, 1891, hon- 
ored and respected by all who knew him. 
Socially, he was a member of the Masonic 
order; and politically was an ardent Dem- 
ocrat. He was a man of the highest re- 
spectability, and those who were most in- 
timately associated with him speak in un- 
qualified terms of his sterling integrity, his 
honor in business and his fidelity to all the 
duties of public and private life. 



WILLIAM ERASER has for almost 
half a century been identified with 
the interests of this section of the state, 
and is now living retired from active labor 
in Morrison at the age of eighty- four years. 
There is an old age that is a benediction to 
all that comes in contact with it, that gives 
out of its rich stores of learning and experi- 
ence, and grows stronger intellectually and 
spiritually as the years pass. Such is the 
wife of Mr. Eraser, an encouragement to 
his associates and an example well worthy 
of emulation. 

He was born in Kirk Hill, Inverness- 
shire, Scotland, January 12, 1816. a son of 
Alexander and Elizabeth (Eraser) Eraser, 



who were not related prior to their mar- 
riage. In Scotland the father followed the 
stone cutter's trade and served as tax col- 
lector of Inverness for the greater portion 
of his life. When our subject was sixteen 
years of age the family emigrated to Ameri- 
ca and settled in Nova Scotia, where the 
mother died August 18, 1839; the father 
January 2, 1844. They had five children, 
of whom William, our subject, is the eldest; 
Donald married Margaret Stewart, now de- 
ceased, and resides in Nova Scotia; Thomas 
died at an early age; Catherine, deceased, 
was the wife of Henry Dunbar, of Nova 
Scotia, and Thomas married Margaret Mc- 
Quarrie and lives in Nova Scotia. 

Our subject received his education in 
the common schools of his native land, and 
after coming to America he engaged in 
teaching school in Picto, Nova Scotia, for 
three years, after which he followed farm- 
ing in that country for sixteen years. In 
the meantime he was married to Miss 
Christina McLeod, of Picto, who was born 
October iS, 18 16, a daughter of Alexander 
and Christina McLeod. She is also of 
Scotch descent. To Mr. and Mrs. Eraser 
were born eight children, all of whom are 
still living, namely: A. M., who is now 
Queen's magistrate in New Glasgow, Nova 
Scotia; Don R., an attorney-at-law and 
deputy county clerk at Mount Carroll, Illi- 
nois; Eliza, wife of P. R. Boyd, of Morri- 
son; Christina, wife of R. T. Waller, of 
Rockford, Illinois; Thomas H., who is en- 
gaged in literary work at his home in Mor- 
rison; A. W. H., ex- member of the Idaho 
legislature, who is engaged in mining in that 
state and in British Columbia; Kate, an 
artist of San Erancisco, California; and Ella 
Belle, wife of Dr. W'eller, of San Erancisco. 

In 185 1 Mr. and Mrs. Eraser came to 



6o 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Illinois and located in Carroll county, where 
he engaged in teaching school during the 
winters of 1S51, 1852, 1853 and 1854, while 
through the summer months his time was 
occupied by farm work. He purchased 
one hundred and sixty acres of land on sec- 
tion 28, Salem township, that county, and 
there he made his home, engaged in agricult- 
ural pursuits for twenty years. In the spring 
of 1 87 1 he came to Whiteside county and 
bought a farm of ninety acres on section 20, 
Mt. Pleasant township, to the cultivation 
and improvement of which he devoted his 
energies for eight years, but since 1879 
has lived retired in Morrison, enjoying the 
rest which should always follow an honora- 
ble and well-spent life. 

Mr. and Mrs. Eraser are both active and 
prominent members of the Presbyterian 
church of Morrison, and he has been an 
elder in the churches with which he has 
been connected for fifty-one years. He is a 
stanch advocate of temperance principles, 
and his wife is an active worker in the Wo- 
man's Christian Temperance Union. In the 
past he had affiliated with the Republican 
party, but of late years has taken no part 
in political affairs. While a resident of Car- 
roll county, he most creditably filled the of- 
fices of school trustee, highway commission- 
er and supervisor of Salem township for 
two terms, and has been honored with local 
offices since coming to this county. He has 
always been found true to every trust re- 
posed in him, whether public or private, 
and has the confidence and respect of his 
fellow citizens and of all who know him. 



L EVERETT S. BURRITT, deceased, 
was one of the honored and highly re- 
spected citizens of Whiteside county, where 



he made his home for over forty years. He 
was born in Hinesburg, Chittenden county, 
Vermont, July 29, 1833, a son of Nelson 
A. and Chloe (Gray) Burritt, also natives of 
that state. The father was a farmer and 
dairyman, engaged in the manufacture of 
butter and cheese. In 1856 he came to Il- 
linois and purchased a farm of three hundred 
and twenty acres in Union Grove township, 
Whiteside county, after which he returned 
to Vermont. Shortly afterward he met with 
an accident, which resulted in his death in 
1857. In his family were five children, Mar- 
quis D., Oscar C, Matilda, Leverett and 
Henry, all living with the exception of Lev- 
erett. 

In the Green Mountain state our subject 
grew to manhood, and his early education, 
acquired in the district schools, was supple- 
.mented by a course at St. Albans, \'ermont. 
He remained on the home farm with his 
father until he attained his majority, and 
then accompanied his sister and her hus- 
band, S. Needham, on their removal to La 
Salle county, Illinois, where they rented 
land and engaged in farming for a short 
time. They next came to Whiteside county 
and took up their residence on the half sec- 
tion of land which their father had pur- 
chased for them. 

At Union Grove Mr. Burntt became ac- 
quainted with Miss Elizabeth A. Simonson, 
who was then teaching school in Prairie 
Center, Union Grove township, and on the 
28th of Eebruary, 1859, they were united 
in marriage at Altay, Schuyler county. New 
York. She is a native of that state, born 
in Starkey, Yates county, May 25, 1833, 
and a daughter of Walter and Ann Maria 
(Clark) Simonson. The father was born in 
Owego, Tioga county. New York, May 2, 
1 80 1, and was a son of Christopher Simon- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



6i 



son, a shoemaker by trade, who died when 
his son was only five years old. The mother 
died two years later, and Walter Simonson 
was then reared by his maternal relatives. 
In early life he learned the trade of cloth 
dressing, and was employed in the woolen 
mills for a number of years. He finally 
lost his sight through the dust of the mills. 
At Great Bend, Pennsylvania, he was mar- 
ried, March 7, 1830, to Miss Ann Maria 
Clark, who was born at that place, Septem- 
ber 28, 1803, and they became the parents 
of seven children, of whom Mrs. Burritt is 
second in order of birth. Mrs. Simonson 
was one of a family of nine children, five 
sons and four daughters, whose parents 
were James and Mehitable (Booth) Clark. 
Her father was a native of Connecticut, an 
early settler of Susquehanna county, Penn- 
sylvania, and a hatter by trade. Mr. Simon- 
son died November 13, 1876, and his wife 
passed away March 15, 1881. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Burritt were born three children, 
namely: Maria E. married S. J. Emery, 
of Shelby county, Iowa, who died shortly 
after their marriage, and she died June 27, 
1894. Emma Belle and Walter E. live 
with their mother in Morrison. 

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Bur- 
ritt located on a farm in Fenton township, 
Whiteside county, where they made their 
home for twenty-two )'ears, and then spent 
one year in Morrison, at the end of which 
time they removed to Lyndon township, 
where our subject purchased a farm of two 
hundred five acres of land, having sold his 
farm in Fenton township, which consisted 
of two hundred two and a half acres. For 
two years he lived retired from active labor 
in the village of Lyndon and then located 
on his farm, where he made his home for 
five years, during which time he devoted his 



attention to stock raising, leaving his farm 
to be operated by others. In 1S90 he re- 
turned to Morrison, where he lived retired 
until called from this life August 7, i8go, 
his remains being interred in Grove Hill 
cemetery, Morrison. In his political affilia- 
tions he was a Republican, and at different 
times filled the offices of school director, 
pathmaster and postmaster of Fenton. 
Fraternally he was connected with the Mod- 
ern Woodmen of America, and religiously 
was a member of the Presbyterian church, 
to which his wife and family also belongs. 
He was a man of the highest respectability, 
and those who were most intimately asso- 
ciated with him speak in unqualified terms 
of his sterling integrity, his honor in business 
and his fidelity to all the duties of public 
and private life. 



NOAH E. PAPE, a well-known enter- 
prising farmer of section i, Ustick 
township, Whiteside county, is a native of 
Illinois, his birth occurring in Carroll coun- 
ty, December 26, i866. His parents, John 
and Melvina (Green) Pape, were natives of 
England and Ohio, respectivel}', and were 
married in Illinois. The father came to 
America when a young man, and later pur- 
chased a farm of eighty acres in Ustick 
township, upon which he was engaged in 
general farming at the time of his death, 
which occurred in 1876. 

In politics he was a Republican, and he 
creditably filled the offices of township 
assessor and collector. His wife is still liv- 
ing and makes her home in Ustick. She is 
a daughter of Hnzel and Susanna Green, 
and is the mother of six children, all living, 
namely: Mary, wife of Samuel J. Hawk, 
a laborer of Fulton, by whom she has five 



62 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



children; Jane, wife of W. S. Mitchell, a 
merchant of Thomson, by whom she had 
four children, two now living; Noah E., our 
subject; George, who married Lizzie Peter- 
kin and is engaged in farming in Ustick; 
Minnie, wife of Frank Milne, a farmer of 
Clyde township, by whom she has three 
children; and John, who is with his mother. 

Noah E. Pape was educated in the dis- 
trict schools of Ustick township and re- 
mained at home with his parents until he at- 
tained his majority. On the fifth of Janu- 
ary, 1888, he led to the marriage altar Miss 
Ann Dyson, who was born in Carroll coun- 
ty, February 14, 1868, a daughter of 
Charles and Catharine (Carter) Dyson, also 
natives of this state. She is one of a 
family of five children, three still living, 
namely: Frank, a farmer of Carroll coun- 
ty; Ann, wife of our subject; and Emma, 
wife of William Peterkin, also of Car- 
roll county. Mr. and Mrs. Pape have 
five children: Floyd, Clay, Blanch, Lee 
and Lepha, the three eldest of whom are 
are now attending school. 

After his marriage Mr. Pape located on 
a farm in York township, Carroll county, 
which he rented for two years, and then 
in connection with his two brothers, he 
rented the two-hundred-acre farm on 
which he now resides. He is interested to 
some extent in stock raising but gives the 
greater part of his attention to general 
farming and is a most skillful and thorough 
agriculturist. He is quite a prominent 
member of a number of civic societies, be- 
longing Ustick Camp, No. 3995, M. W. A., 
in which he has held several offices; Ustick 
lodge, No. 9, Mystic Workers of the World, of 
which he is now banker; and the Knights of 
Pythias lodge. No. 120, of Morrison. As a 
Republican, he takes quite an active inter- 



est in political affairs, and has held the 
offices of road commissioner and school di- 
rector for three years each. His wife holds 
membership in the Baptist church. 



RICHARD I. HARDY, a progressive and 
enterprising agriculturist of section 13, 
Ustick township, is a native of Whiteside 
county, his birth having occurred in Mount 
Pleasant township, February 22, 1856. His 
father, William Hardy, was born in Lin- 
colnshire, England, in 1833, and came to 
America in 1850. After one year spent in 
New York he came to this county, where he 
at first worked as a farm hand. At length 
he was able to purchase eighty acres of land 
in Mount Pleasant township, and as time 
advanced he added to the original tract, at 
one time eighty acres, and in all one hun- 
dred and sixty acres, all in Mount Pleasant 
township. Throughout his active business 
life he gave his attention to general farm- 
ing and stock raising and met with good 
success, owning at the time of his death 
one hundred and sixty acres in Mount 
Pleasant township, and one hundred and 
twenty acres in Ustick township, and a 
quarter section in La Moure county. North 
Dakota. He married Mrs. Keziah Richard- 
son, also a native of Lincolnshire, England, 
who came to this country when young as 
the wife of his brother, Thomas Hardy. 
By her first husband she had one child, 
Susanna, now the wife of Joseph Jordon, of 
Gordon Plains, by whom she had three 
children. Seven children were born of the 
second marriage, but one died in infancy. 
They were Amos, who lives on a part of 
the old home farm in Mount Pleasant town- 
ship and has four children; Richard, our 
subject; Winfield, who also lives on a part 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



63 



of the home farm and has two children; 
Horace, who died when a young man; 
Olive, who died in infancy; AHce, who died 
young, and Ruby, who married David 
Stewart, of North Dakota, and died in 
1893, leaving one child, Lee. The mother 
of these children died in 1870, and subse- 
quently the father married her sister, Mrs. 
Elicia Kennen, widow of William Kennen, 
who died in Illinois, leaving one child, 
Elizabeth. During the last two years of 
his life the father lived in North Dakota, 
but died in 1890 while on a visit to his son 
in Union Grove township, this county. 

Reared upon the home farm, Richard I. 
Hardy was educated in the district schools 
of Mount Pleasant township, and after leav- 
ing school he worked as a farm hand for 
two years. Subsequently he successfully 
operated rented land until he was able to 
purchase eighty acres of land on section 13, 
Ustick township, where he now lives. Be- 
sides this property he also operates another 
eighty-acre tract belonging to his sister. 

On the 31st of July, 1878, Mr. Hardy 
was united in marriage with Miss Ella Mc- 
Millen, who was born in Ohio October 20, 
1854, and when young came to Illinois with 
her parents, William and Nancy (Butler) 
McMillen, who settled in Round Grove. The 
father was born in Ohio June 27, 1803, and 
died in 1880, while the mother was born in 
West Virginia February 25, 1807, and died 
in 1874. They had fourteen children, of 
whom three died in infancy, the others be- 
ing as follows: Eliza J. is the wife of James 
Ewing, of Wilsonville, Alabama, and they 
have two children; L. Margaret married 
James Rhodes, of Berlin, Ohio, and died in 
1866, leaving a family of children; William 
M. was a soldier of Company H, Second 
West Virginia Cavalry, during the Civil war, 



and died soon after the close of that strug- 
gle, leaving five children; James H. was a 
member of the same company as his brother, 
and died about 1870; Sarah M., the twin 
sister of James H., married L. J. Thomp- 
son, and died in 1889, leaving five children; 
Amanda M. married R. M. Thompson, and 
died in Lyndon township, Whiteside county, 
in 1893; Andrew L., a soldier of the same 
company as his two brothers, is now living 
in Jackson, Ohio, and has a family of five 
children; A. Murray and Emerson, also 
members of Company H, Second West Vir- 
ginia Cavalr\ ; the former is now a resident 
of Marietta, Ohio, and has seven children, 
while the latter lives in New York City, and 
has five children; S. Marion was killed in 
battle while serving in the same company 
and regiment as his brothers; and Ella N. 
is the wife of our subject. Mr. and Mrs. 
Hardy have four children, namely: Myrtle 
L., Mabel A., Murray W. and Maude M., 
all at home with the exception of the oldest, 
who is now the wife of James McKee, of 
Ustick township, and has one child, Harold. 
After his marriage Mr. Hardy engaged in 
farming in Mount Pleasant township for 
three years, and then worked for his father 
in Ustick township for four years, after 
which he returned to Mount Pleasant town- 
ship for two years. At the end of that time 
he located upon his present farm on section 
13, Ustick township, and for a number of 
years he operated a corn sheller and thresher 
in connection with his work as a general 
farmer and stock raiser, but sold out that 
business in 1899. He has made many im- 
provements upon his place since it came 
into his possession, and has met with good 
success in his undertakings. He casts his 
ballot with the Republican party, and has 
been elected to minor oilices, having served 



64 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



as school director and road commissioner. 
While in the latter office he did much toward 
improving the roads and bridges in his town- 
ship. Fraternally he is a member of Hen- 
derson camp, No. 13, M. W. A., of Morri- 
son. 



M 



ERIL MEAD, deceased, was for many 
years prominently identified with the 
business interests of Morrison and also bore 
an important part in public affairs. He 
was born in Clark county, Ohio, December 
18, 1820, a son of Allen and Sally (Scarlett) 
Mead, natives of New York and Vermont, 
respectively. The father served as a soldier 
of the war of 18 12, under General Winfield 
Scott, and during the last twenty-eight 
years of his life was a minister of the Free 
Will Baptist church. He also followed 
farming. In his family were ten children, 
of whom Merril was the second in order of 
birth. 

The early education of our subject was 
acquired in the public schools of his native 
county, after which he attended college at 
Springfield, Ohio. On the completion of 
his education he engaged in teaching school 
for some time in Harmony, Clark county. 
There he was married, September 30, 1847, 
to Miss Harriet Newlove, who was born in 
Harmony township, Clark county, Ohio, 
April 3, 1830, about two and a half miles 
from the Mead homestead in Springfield 
township, Clark county, Ohio. Her parents, 
Labourn and Elizabeth (Inman) Newlove, 
were both natives of England, the mother 
being from Yorkshire, and the latter was a 
daughter of Matthew and Ellen (Chapman) 
Inman, farming people of that country, in 
whose family were six children, five sons and 
one daughter. Mrs. Mead's paternal grand- 



parents were Joseph and Ann (Brown) New- 
love, natives of the north of England. 
There the grandfather was quite exten- 
sively and successfully engaged in farm- 
ing until 1820, when he came to the United 
States, accompanied by his wife and family, 
and settled in Clark county, Ohio, where 
he purchased a large farm and where he 
continued to make his home throughout the 
remainder of his life. Matthew Inman, 
Mrs. Mead's maternal grandfather, also 
came to America and bought a farm in Clark 
county, Ohio, on which he made his home 
until death. Laybourn Newlove was the 
third in order of birth in a family of sev- 
en children. In early life he learned the 
blacksmith's trade, and upon his farm con- 
ducted a shop, while he also extensively 
engaged in agricultural pursuits. The town 
of Harmony was laid out upon his farm. 
There he died October 21, 1865, and his 
wife passed away May 10, 1859. They were 
consistent members of the Methodist Pro- 
testant church, and were held in high 
regard by all who knew them. In their 
family were four children, namely: John, 
who died at the age of two years; Harriet, 
now Mrs. Mead; Joseph, who married Sa- 
rah Lindell, has four children living, and 
makes his home near Columbus, Ohio, and 
Ellen widow of John Kier, by whom she 
had four children now living and makes her 
home in Unionville, Whiteside county, Illi- 
nois. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Mead were born six 
children; Elizabeth died at the age of 
thirteen years. Rilla S. died at the age of 
twenty-eight years. Meril Inman, who is 
engaged in the coal, ice, wood and feed 
business in Clinton, Iowa, married Amelia 
Sherwin, and they have seven children, all 
living, namely: Edwin H., Meril S., Maude 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



65 



E., Mary Eva, Jonathan E., Mildred and 
Rilla M. Prior to going to Clinton he was 
a farmer in Union Grove township, White- 
side county. Illinois. Ellen died at the 
age of twenty- one years. Harriet and Eliza, 
twins, live with their mother in Morrison, 
both being graduates of the Morrison high 
school. 

After his marriage Mr. Mead continued 
his residence in Clark county, Ohio, while 
he taught school in Harmony, until 1855, 
when he came to Whiteside county, Illi- 
nois, and took up land in Ustick town- 
ship on a land warrant which was given to 
his mother for services rendered by his 
father in the war of 1812. There our 
subject engaged in farming until 1865, 
when he removed to Morrfeon, purchas- 
ing a farm of eighty acres, sixteen acres 
of which were within the corporate limits 
of the city. After locating here he engaged 
in the real estate and insurance business in 
connection with farming, representing the 
Oriental, Northwestern, and quite a num- 
ber of large and reliable insurance compa- 
nies. In business he prospered, and be- 
sides the valuable property he owned in this 
county, he had farms in Iowa and other 
parts of Illinois. 

Politically he was a Whig in early life 
and later a Republican. While a resident 
of Ustick township he served as justice of 
the peace for seven years, and held the 
office of assessor of Harmony township, 
Clark county, Ohio, for ten consecutive 
years. He was also deputy United States 
marshal in that county during President 
Taylor's administration, and for one term 
was coroner of Whiteside county, and jus- 
tice of the peace in Morrison for nine years. 
He was always found true to every trust 
reposed in him, either in public or private 



life, and his official duties were discharged 
in a most commendable manner. Socially 
he was a member of the'Odd Fellows lodge. 
No. 257, of Morrison, and religiously be- 
longed to the Methodist church. He died 
of heart trouble, August 16, 1891, honored 
and respected by all who knew him. Mrs. 
Mead is an estimable lady of many sterling 
qualities, who was formerly a member of 
the Methodist Protestant church, but at the 
present time there is no church of that de- 
nomination in Morrison. 



GEORGE Y. UPTON is one of White- 
side county's native sons and a repre- 
sentative of one of her most prominent and 
honored families, whose identification with 
her history dates from an early period in 
the development of the county. He was 
born in Lyndon township January 16, 1846, 
and is a son of Eli and Elizabeth Ann (New- 
comb) Upton, whose sketch appears on an- 
other page of this volume. He received a 
good district school education in Mount 
Pleasant township. The first school which 
he attended was known as the Carroff 
school, which was built of unplaned boards; 
the roof was also of boards and the cracks 
were battened, no plaster being used. Mr. 
Upton can relate many interesting inci- 
dents of pioneer days, and well remembers 
the first locomotive run over the railroad 
through the county, it being the same that 
was exhibited at the World's Fair in Chi- 
cago in 1893 as the pioneer engine of the 
northwest. 

Soon after his eighteenth birthday Mr. 
Upton entered the service of his country, 
enlisting February 24, 1864, in Companj- 
B, Thirty-fourth Illinois Veteran Volun- 
teers, commanded by Captain John Parrot 



66 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



and Colonel Kirk. After being mustered in 
at Dixon the regiment proceeded at once to 
Rossville, Georgia; where they camped un- 
til the opening of the Atlanta campaign, on 
the 6th of May. They were with Sherman 
on the celebrated march to the sea, and 
participated in the battles of Rocky Face 
Ridge. Chattahoochee river, Kenesaw Moun- 
tain and many notable engagements. After 
the fall of Atlanta the regiment started 
north and marched to Savannah, Georgia, 
December 25, 1864, where they remained 
about a month. From there they went to 
Goldsboro, North Carolina, and just before 
arriving at that place learned of the sur- 
render of General Lee. They marched on 
to Washington, D. C, passing through 
Richmond and the Wilderness, and partici- 
pated in the grand review. From the capi- 
tal city they went to Parkersburg, West 
Virginia, and then by boat to Louisville, 
Kentucky, where they were mustered out 
July 12, 1865, being discharged at Camp 
Douglas, Chicago. 

On his return to civil life, Mr. Upton 
resumed farming on the old homestead. He 
was married, February 5, 1866, to Miss 
Rose Elmira Carter, who was born in Penn- 
sylvania, July 3, 1850, and is a daughter of 
Harry E. and Lavina (Seeley) Carter, 
natives of Pennsylvania and New York, 
respectively, The father, who was a farmer 
by occupation, came to Illinois in 1868, but 
later spent one year in Iowa, after which he 
located in Morrison. At the end of another 
year he moved to a farm in Lyndon town- 
ship, where he made his home for a few 
years, but in 1876 returned to Morrison, 
where his death occurred in 1888. In his 
family were seven children. Mr. and Mrs. 
Upton had two children: Edith, who died 
at the age of twenty-four years, was the 



wife of Thomas J. Scotchbrook, and had 
four children, Beulah M., Ivy, Mary and 
Edith. Harry Eli is now a type liner em- 
ployed in Chicago. 

Mr. Upton continued to rent land of his 
father and engage in agricultural pursuits 
until 1882, when he removed to Morrison, 
where he was interested in business with his 
father as dealers in horses until 1895. In 
1890, however, he removed to Chicago, 
where he has since engaged in the live stock 
business at the stock yards, but since 1893 
has made his home in La Grange. He still 
owns a fine farm of one hundred and twenty 
acres in Mount Pleasant township, White- 
side county, besides property in La Grange. 
He is an upright, reliable business man, and 
in his undertakings has met with well de- 
served success. In politics he is independ- 
ent and in his social relations is a member 
of Morrison camp. No. 13, M. W. A., and 
Alpheus Clark post. No. 118, G. A. R. 



GEORGE E. GOODENOUGH. Prom- 
inent among the successful farmers 
and extensive stock growers of this county 
may be named the subject of this historical 
notice, whose home is on section 10, Union 
Grove township. He was born in Jefferson 
county. New York, April 11, 1843, a son of 
Willard A. and Nancy J. (Hull) Good- 
enough. The father was also born in that 
county, March 24, 1822, and is a son of 
John and Betsy (Cobleigh) Goodenough, 
natives of Vermont, and a grandson of Levi 
Goodenough, life-long residents of the 
Green Mountain state. In 18 18, John 
Goodenough removed to Jefferson county, 
New York, where he had previously taken 
up fifty-five acres of timber land, and he 
became one of the most extensive and sue- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



67 



cessful dairymen of the county, his cheese 
being known throughout the east. Both he 
and the gTiindtnother of our subject died 
there. Of their eleven children six reached 
years of maturity: Helan M., who is still 
living in Jefferson county, New York, at 
the age of eighty-two years; Willard A., 
father of our subject; Roswell P. and Lu- 
risa A., both residents of Morrison, Illinois; 
Robert, of Jefferson county. New York; and 
Laura, of Chicago. 

In his native county, Willard A. Good- 
enough grew to manhood, and on the 13th 
of January, 1841, he married Miss Nancy 
Jane Hull, who was born in Morristown, 
New York, August 22, 1820, a daughter of 
Nathaniel and Prudence (Fish) Hull, natives 
of Massachusetts. Our subject is the old- 
est of the five children born to this union; 
Esther J. married James Wessel, who died 
leaving five children, and she is now the 
wife of Benjamin Benson, of Morrison; 
Lewis died in infancy; Emma and Ella L. 
were twins. The former married L. A. 
Pollard and died in Morrison, and their 
only child died in infancy. Ella L. is the 
wife of O. L. Kent, a miller of Saline coun- 
ty, Nebraska, and they have two sons. The 
mother of these children died in November, 

1 89 1, and for his second wife the father 
married Mrs. Mary (Fish) Ellsworth. In 
1865 he brought his family to Whiteside 
county, Illinois, and took up his residence in 
Union Grove township, where he success- 
fully engaged in farming until the spring of 

1892, since which time he has lived retired 
in Morrison. After leaving his farm he 
rented it until 1898, when he sold it to our 
subject. He is a Republican in politics, 
has creditably filled a number of local offices 
of honor and trust, and is an active and 
prominent member of the Baptist church. 



of which he has been a deacon and trustee 
for almost twentj' years. 

Reared in his native county George E. 
(jOodeno\jgh acquired his early education in 
its public school, and later attended the 
Union Academy of Belleville, New York. 
He came with his parents to this state and 
continued to reside upon the old homestead 
in Union Grove township until forty-one 
years of age. In the meantime he was mar- 
ried October 24, 1867, to Miss Mary De 
Groodt, who was born in Rockford, Winne- 
bago county, Illinois, February 15, 1849, "^ 
daughter of John and Mary (Danforth) De 
Groodt, natives of New York. At an early 
day the father came to Illinois, and in 1853 
took up three hundred and twenty acres of 
land in Union Grove township, Whiteside 
county, where he made his home until 1864, 
when he sold the place and removed to Mis- 
souri. He died there in 1891. His wife is 
also deceased. Of their large family of 
children seven reached man and woman- 
hood, Mrs. Goodenough being the youngest. 
To our subject and wife were born four chil- 
dren: (i) Minnie is the wife of John F. 
Reed, a farmer of Union Grove township, 
and they have four children: Vallie, Willis, 
Lola and Florence. (2) John \\'illiam died 
at the age of five months. (3) Arthur L. 
married Hulda Bull, and they reside on his 
grandfather's old farm of two hundred and 
seventy-five acres, which now belongs to 
our subject. (4) Bert E. aids his father in 
the operation of the home place. 

Mr. Goodenough's first purchase con- 
sisted of one hundred and twenty acres on 
section 10, Union Grove township, and he 
now owns si.x hundred and seventy-five 
acres, including the old homestead, where 
his son, Arthur, now resides. He is a sys- 
tematic and progressive agriculturist, who 



68 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



gives special attention to stock raising, and 
generally keeps about three hundred head 
of hogs and two hundred head of cattle, be- 
sides a good herd of grade Norman draft 
horses, being quite extensively engaged in 
feeding and shipping stock to the Chicago 
markets. 

Mr. and Mrs. Goodenough are earnest 
and consistent members of the Baptist 
church of Morrison, and he and his son 
belong to Morrison tent. Knights of the 
Maccabees. Politically he is identified with 
the Republican party, and as one of the 
prominent and influential citizens of his 
community he has been called upon to fill 
public office. He has served as commis- 
sioner of highways for six years and super- 
visor for two terms, during which time he 
was a member of the committee on educa- 
tion and chairman of the committee on the 
county farm and its inmates. 



JOHN J. REIMERS, a well-known vet- 
erinary surgeon of Morrison, where he 
has been in successful practice since 1881, 
was born in Wiemerstedt, Province of Hol- 
stein, Germany, August 13. 1852, and is 
a son of Hans and Antje (Boe) Reimers. 
His ancestors lived in Feddring from 1500 
to 1864, but prior to that time had made 
their home in the birthplace of our subject 
and took an active part in the war for in- 
dependence, one of them being a leader of 
the forces. The father was an independent 
farmer, a man of prominence in his com- 
munity and held office similar to that of our 
supervisor. Both he and his wife were 
members of the Lutheran church and died 
in their native land, honored and respected 
by all who knew them. 

Our subject was educated in the schools 



near his boyhood home until fourteen years 
of age and then attended, the gymnasium at 
Meldorf for six years. He then took up the 
study of veterinary surgeon at Berlin, Han- 
over, Stuggart and Giessen, and was grad- 
uated from a veterinary college at Hanover, 
in 1876. Five years of preparation, includ- 
ing a post-graduate course of a year and a 
half, made him \ery proficient in his chosen 
calling. In 1877 he came to the United 
States and first located at Davenport, Iowa, 
where he remained for four years, and in 
1 88 1 came to Morrison, where he has since 
engaged in practice with excellent success, 
having the best practice of any veterinary 
surgeon in the town or surrounding country. 
He devotes his entire tim.e and attention to 
his professional duties and has secured the 
patronage of the best class of people. In 
his political views he is a Democrat. 

On the 30th of April, 1884, Mr. Reimers 
married Mrs. Mary E. Carter-Hall, a daugh- 
ter of James E. Carter, a native of New 
York, who has made his home in Morrison 
for the past thirty years. 



JOHN C. PARNHAM, a representative 
and prominent farmer of Ustick town- 
ship, residing on section 34, is a man of 
more than ordinary business capacity, in- 
telligent and well-informed, and at once 
upon becoming a resident here identified 
himself with the progress and best interests 
of the people. 

Mr. Parnham was born on the iith of 
November, 1836, in Lincolnshire, England, 
where his parents, John and Mary (Craven) 
Parnham, spent their entire lives as farming 
people. Of the six children born to them 
three died in infancy. Our subject is the 
oldest of the others; Elizabeth is the wife of 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



69 



Anthony Treadp;old, of Emmetsburg, Iowa, 
by whom she has two sons; and Sarah died 
at the a^e of twenty-one years. 

In his native land Mr. Parnham was 
reared and educated, and he remained at 
home until he reached the age of twenty-one 
years, when he determined to try his fortune 
on this side of the Atlantic, believing that 
better opportunities were here afforded am- 
bitious and enterprising young men than in 
the older countries of Europe. On his 
arrival he located in Whiteside county, 
Illinois, where he worked as a farm hand for 
four years, and then, having saved a little 
money, he commenced renting land. In 
1 868 he made his first purchase, consisting 
of two hundred acres, upon which he now 
resides, and which he has converted into 
one of the best improved and most desir- 
able farms of Ustick township. A few 
years ago he erected thereon a good modern 
dwelling and has made many other improve- 
ments upon the place which add to its 
attractive and thrifty appearance. As a 
farmer and stock raiser he has met with 
more than ordinary success, and is to-day 
one of the well-to-do citizens of his com- 
munity. 

On the 28th of October, 1862, Mr. Parn- 
ham married Mrs. Jane (Ridley) Parnham, 
who was also born in Lincolnshire, England, 
June 25, 1833, a daughter of John and Eliz- 
abeth (Rush) Ridley. The father died in 
that country iniSgi, but the mother is still 
living and makes her home there. For her 
first husband, Mrs. Parnham married Alfred 
Parnham, a native of England, where they 
made their home until after their marriage. 
He and one child were killed in a cyclone 
which passed through Comanche, Iowa, in 
i860. By that union Mrs. Parnham had 
three children. One of these, William A., 



now living upon a part of our subject's farm, 
married Fannie Seldon, and has four chil- 
dren: Grace M., Ruth E., Edna C. and 
Cjertrude H. Three daughters were born 
to our subject and his wife, but two died in 
infancy, the only one now living being Ger- 
trude A., now the wife of Robert A. Norrish, 
whose sketch appears on another page of 
this work. 

Mr. and Mrs. Parnham are active and 
faithful members of the Methodist Episco- 
pal church, in which he is serving as stew- 
ard and teacher in the Sunday school, hav- 
ing a class of young ladies. He takes a 
commendable interest in everything calcu- 
lated to advance the moral or intellectual 
welfare of his communitj' and his support 
is never withheld from any enterprise for 
the public good. He cast his first presiden- 
tial vote for Abraham Lincoln, and by his 
ballot always supports the man whom he 
believes best qualified to fill the office re- 
gardless of party lines. He has been hon- 
ored with a number of township offices of 
trust and responsibility, the duties of which 
he has most capably discharged, having 
served as commissioner of highways nine 
years, treasurer of the board of commission- 
ers, and school director and school trustee. 



THE FIRST N.^TIONAL BANK of Mor- 
rison, one of the solid financial institu- 
tions in this section of the state, was estab- 
lished in January, 1865. by Leander Smith, 
Lester H. Robinson, William M. Spears, 
Charles Spears, James Snyder, A. Nelson 
Young, Winfield S. Wilkinson, Aaron C. 
Jackson, Willis T. Johnson and Albert ). 
Jackson, who composed the first board of 
directors. None of these are now serving 
with the exception of Willis T. Johnson, of 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Chicago. At their first meeting Leander 
Smith was elected president; Lester H. Rob- 
inson, vice-president; and Albert J. Jack- 
son, cashier. On the death of the first 
president, Winfield S. Wilkinson was elect- 
ed to that office, and he in turn was suc- 
ceeded by E. A. Smith, a son of Leander 
Smith, deceased. The second vice-presi- 
dent was Henry B. Wilkinson, who is still 
serving in that capacity, while Albert J. 
Jackson has been the cashier since the or- 
ganization of the bank. F. A. Van Osdal 
has been clerk in the bank for thirteen 
years, and H. T. Griffin for four years. 
On the 7th of March, 1898, the number of 
directors was changed from ten to eight, 
and is now composed of H. W. Smith, H. 
B. Wilkinson, O. Woods, D. S. Spafford, 
W. F. Johnson, E. A. Smith, Charles 
Shirk and M. H. Potter, all residents of 
Morrison with the exception of Mr. Johnson. 
The bank has a capital stock of one hun- 
dred thousand dollars, and under the man- 
agements of its present officials has steadily 
prospered. . 



LUCIUS E. RICE, one of the most pro- 
gressive and public-spirited citizens of 
Lyndon, is a native of Massachusetts, born 
in Worcester county, September 7, 1830, 
and a son of Augustus Rice, who was born 
in the same county, August 20, 1800. When 
a young man the father was a sailor; he 
studied navigation and was master of a ves- 
sel engaged in the coasting trade, and also 
made several trips to Europe. In Massa- 
chusetts he married Miss Esther Brooks, 
who was born' in that state August 16, 1802, 
and belonged to an old New England fam- 
ily. Her paternal grandmother was a na- 
tive of England. She had one uncle who 



was a soldier of the war of 18 12, and in the 
same struggle her husband's father, John 
Rice, and his son Amos also participated. 
The Rice family was founded in America in 
i68o,- by four brothers, natives of Wales, 
who settled in the New England states, and 
from one of them our subject is descended. 
To Augustus and Esther (Brooks) Rice were 
born six children, one of whom died young. 
John B., one of the best posted and most 
prominent lawyers of Illinois, died in Ot- 
tawa in 1894. Franklin A. died in this 
county in 1854. Lucius E., of this review, 
is the next of the family. Fitz Hiram, an 
attorney of California, who studied law in 
Boston, is married and has one daughter, 
Lucy, now a resident of Watertown, Massa- 
chusetts. Esther D. is the wife of Henry 
G. Putnam, a prosperous land agent of 
Dallas, Texas, and they have six children: 
John; Augustus; Gardner; Jay; Mrs. Ella 
Still and Birdie. After his marriage the 
father of our subject turned his attention 
to farming and continued to make his home 
in Massachusetts for five years, after which 
he lived in Cortland county. New York, for 
four years. While there he ran a boat on 
the Erie canal. At the end of four years 
he came west and took up a claim of four 
hundred acres in what is now Lyndon town- 
ship, Whiteside county, Illinois, but at that 
time formed a part of Jo Daviess county. 
At that time the land had not been sur- 
veyed, but when it came into market he 
purchased it from the government. Soon 
after his arrival the settlers got together 
and drew up a code of laws and enforced 
them. Mr. Rice was one of the first com- 
missioners that transacted any of the county 
business, and was instrumental in locating 
the county seat at Lyndon, but it was after- 
ward removed to Sterling and still later to 




L. E. RICE. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



73 



Morrison. His time was spent in farming, 
but he alwa3S toolc an active and com- 
mendable interest in everything pertaining 
to the best welfare of his township and 
county. He died in 1864, his wife in 
1883, honored and respected by all who 
knew them. 

Lucius E. Rice was only six years old 
when brought by his parents to this county, 
and here amid pioneer scenes he grew to 
manhood. On his arrival there were about 
six hundred Indians still in the county, but 
they were soon driven away and sought 
homes on the other side of the Mississippi. 
He was provided with excellent educational 
advantages, and after attending the Lyndon 
Academy was a student at Knox College for 
three years. His brother John graduated 
from the same college, being a classmate of 
Justice Craig, and also Judge Smith, of 
Rock Island. Before completing the course 
our subject was called home, in 1857, on 
account of the illness of his father, and he 
then took charge of the farm, which he 
operated for some time. Nearly all his 
life he has been interested in farming, and 
for a few years was quite extensively en- 
gaged in that occupation, but since his re- 
has only the village of Lyndon, in 1872, 
moval to operated a small farm of forty 
acres. 

On the 9th of June, 1874, Mr. Rice was 
united in marriage with Miss Martha C. 
Coburn, who was born in Vermont July 6, 
1838, a daughter of Anson and Salina 
(Osgood) Coburn, also natives of that state, 
where they spent their entire lives. In their 
family were four children, natnely: (1 I Ade- 
line married Horace Warner, of Holyoke, 
Massachusetts, and died in a hospital in 
Boston. She had three children, two now 
living: Salina, wife of Charles Judd, of 



Holyoke, and Minnie, also a resident of 
Holyoke and the widow of William Trascot, 
by whom she had one son, William. (2) 
Henry died at the age of twenty-three 
years. (3) Mary is the widow of John 
Morgan and a resident of Buckhead, Geor- 
gia. She has two children. (4) Martha C. 
is the wife of our subject. For sixteen 
years she successfully engaged in teaching 
school, first in Vermont and later in Wis- 
consin, while for the last four years of that 
time she taught in Lyndon, Illinois. She 
came to this county in 1868, and it was 
here that she became acquainted with Mr. 
Rice. Three children were born of their 
union: Perry F. graduated from the Mis- 
souri Medical College oi St. Louis, in April, 
1899, and is now a physician of Hillsdale, 
Illinois; John B. is now pursuing a classical 
course at Knox College, Galesburg; and 
Salina C. has received a high-school educa- 
tion and is at home with her parents. 

Mr. Rice was a prime organizer of the 
Farmers' Co-operative Association, which 
had a capital of one hundred thousand dol- 
lars, and in which he was a large investor, 
but through a little mismanagement the en- 
terprise never materialized. During the 
trying days of the Civil war he efficiently 
served as supervisor of Lyndon township, 
and was also a member of the central com- 
mittee of the Republican party, but now 
affiliates with the Democracy. He is one 
of the most prominent and influential men 
of his community, one whose support is 
never withheld from any enterprise for the 
public good, and he has faithfully served 
his fellow-citizens in the capacity of assessor, 
supervisor and justice of the peace, having 
filled the last named office for the past 
fifteen years in a most creditable and ac- 
ceptable manner. 



74 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



W INFIELD J. HARDY, a practical and 
enterprising agriculturist of Mount 
Pleasant township, owns and operates one 
hundred and ten acres of land, constituting 
one of the valuable and highly improved 
farms of the locality. His possessions have 
all been acquired through his own efforts, 
and as the result of his consecutive endeavor 
he has won a place among the substantial 
citizens of his native county. 

Mr. Hardy was born in Mount Pleasant 
township February 12, 1858, and is a son 
of William and Keziah (Richardson) Hardy. 
The father was born in Lincolnshire, Eng- 
land, January 27, 1832, and the mother was 
also a native of the same land, her birth 
having occurred in 1828. By occupation 
William Hardy was a farmer, and in 1852 
he crossed the Atlantic to America, taking 
up his abode in New York, where he re- 
mained for some time. He then came to 
Illinois, and for several years carried on 
agricultural pursuits in Mount Pleasant 
township, Whiteside county, after which he 
purchased land in Ustick township, continu- 
ing its cultivation until 1877. He then re- 
moved to Morrison, but after two years 
located in Ustick township, and in 1888 
went to North Dakota, where he purchased 
land and engaged in farming. After three 
years he returned to Illinois on a visit, and 
here his death occurred. His first wife had 
died in 1869, and he afterward married her 
sister, Mrs. Alicia Kennan, who was then a 
widow, and who died April 2, 1885. There 
were si.x children by the first marriage, 
three of whom are living — Richard I., Amos 
W. and Winfield J. 

The last named obtained his education 
in the country schools of his native town- 
ship, and remained at home with his parents 
until he had attained his majority, assisting 



in the labors of the fields and meadows and 
thus gaining a good practical knowledge of 
the occupation which he has made his life 
work. .\fter reaching man's estate he 
worked for two years as a farm hand and 
then rented land for a year. About that 
time he was married. Miss Elva Seaman be- 
coming his wife on the ist of January, 1882. 
She was born in Lyndon township, White- 
side county, October 2, 1856, and is a 
daughter of David and Amy (Sweet) Sea- 
man, natives of New York, who came to 
Illinois about 1852. Her mother was of 
Scotch descent, and after the death of her 
first husband, in 1858, she became the wife 
of William Hicks, and is now living in Mor- 
rison. The children of her first marriage 
are Ephraim, who died in childhood, and 
Elva, now Mrs. Hardy. 

After their marriage our subject and his 
wife located upon a rented farm, which was 
their home for twelve years, on the expira- 
tion of which period they took up their abode 
on a part of the old Hardy homestead. 
Their union has been blessed with two chil- 
dren: Ray W., born December 29, 1883, 
and Carlie A., born October 9, 1888, the 
elder now a student in the schools of Morri- 
son. 

Mr. Hardy is engaged in general farm- 
ing and is one of the progressive agricult- 
urists of the community. For a number of 
years, in partnership with Eli Harrison, he 
operated a thresher and corn sheller, and 
made considerable money through that in- 
dustry, which he continued until 1894. 
When he located upon the farm which is 
now his home, it was entirely unimproved. 
He has erected a comfortable residence, built 
good barns and other outbuildings necessary 
for the care of stock and grain and has 
placed the land under a high state of culti- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



75 



vation, the well tilled fields yielding to him 
excellent returns. He raises some stock, 
making a specialty of hogs, and his industry, 
combined with his honorable business meth- 
ods, has brought to hitn a comfortable com- 
petence. Mr. Hardy is a member of the 
Fraternal Tribune lodge, of Morrison. He 
has served as school director and in his 
political views he is independent, voting for 
the man whom he thinks best qualified for 
the office, regardless of party affiliations. 
Industr}' and enterprise are numbered among 
his chief characteristics and make him one 
of the leading and representative citizens of 
the community. 



SAMUEL A. LANGDON, one of Morri- 
son's most esteemed citizens, was for 
many years prominently identified with the 
agricultural interests of the county, but at 
present is not actively engaged in any busi- 
ness. He was born in Berkshire county, 
Massachusetts, June 17, 1833, a son of 
Amos and Naomi (Thompson) Langdon, 
also natives of that county. There the 
grandfather, Amos Langdon, Sr. , spent his 
entire life as a farmer, his father, Noah 
Langdon, being one of the early settlers of 
the county, arriving there in 1755. During 
the Revolutionary war, Amos enlisted from 
Berkshire county, at the age of nineteen, 
with his two brothers, Martin and Seth, as 
soldiers of the Continental army. In his 
family were eight children, five sons and 
three dau.;hters, of whom the father of our 
subject was third in order of birth. He 
became an extensive stock t)reeder of his 
native county, and served his fellow citizens 
as a member of the state legislature in 1840 
and in 1852. He never came west, but died 
in Massachusetts, in January, 1862. His 



wife afterward came to Whiteside county, 
and was living with her daughter in Hume 
township at the time of her death, which 
occurred January 19, 1876. Her father, 
Samuel Thompson, was of English descent, 
as well as the Langdon family. Our subject 
is now the only one living in a family of 
nine children, who in order of birth were as 
follows: Seth S. ; Zaphna V., Reuben A., 
Almena R., Milo T., Albert C. , Marilla A., 
Samuel A. and Amanda J. 

Upon the home farm Samuel A. Lang- 
don grew to manhood, and in the district 
schools of the neighborhood he acquired his 
early education, which was supplemented 
by a business course at Bacon's Commercial 
College, in Cincinnati, Ohio. At the age 
of twenty-two he went to Ross county, 
Ohio, and for several years was station 
agent for the Baltimore & Ohio Southwest- 
ern Railroad, at Lyndon, which town was 
named by him. He also served as its first 
postmaster and still has his postmaster's 
commission. While holding the position of 
agent he was engaged in the grain business, 
and when he retired from the railroad serv- 
ice he embarked in merchandising at that 
place, where he remained until elected 
treasurer of Ross county in 1865, when he 
removed to Chillicothe, the county seat. 
So acceptably did he fill the office, that he 
was re-elected in 1867 for another two- 
years' term. 

Being in poor health, Mr. Langdon de- 
termined to come to Illinois, in 1871, and 
accordingly came to Whiteside county. 
After living in Morrison for one year, he 
purchased a farm of three hundred and 
forty-four acres, and to its cultivation and 
improvement he devoted his energies for 
twenty-two years, but since 1894 has lived 
retired in Morrison, surrounded by all the 



76 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



comforts and many of the luxuries of life. 
While in the country he gave special atten- 
tion to the breeding and raising of Holstein 
cattle, having the first herd of the kind in 
this locality, and he often kept as high as 
eighty head upon his place. 

On the 25th of November, 1862, Mr. 
Langdon was united in marriage with Miss 
Lucelia Brewer, who was born in Portland 
township, this county, April 3, 1844, a 
daughter of Daniel P. and Emeline (Hollis- 
ter) Brewer, pioneers of Whiteside county, 
who are mentioned more fully in the sketch 
of D. P. Brewer on another page of this 
volume. Five children have been born to 
Mr. and Mrs. Langdon, namely: Elsie L., 
wife of F. A. Belt, a florist of Sterling, by 
whom she has two children; Porter B., a 
resident of Portland, Oregon, who married 
Daisy Wharfield, and has three children; 
Buel A., who married Hattie Swarthout and 
is now eilitor and publisher of the Record 
of Morrison; Ross S., at home with his 
parents in Morrison; Clark E., who is a 
graduate of the Morrison high school and is 
also at home. 

Mr. Langdon is a member of the Hol- 
stein Friesian Association, and is a Knight 
Templar Mason, belonging to the blue 
lodge, chapter and commandery of Chilli- 
cothe, Ohio. Politically he is a stanch 
supporter of the Democratic party, and dur- 
his residence in this county has served as 
supervisor three terms, school clerk fifteen 
years and school director for the same length 
of time. While in Ohio he also served as 
township treasurer for five years. His offi- 
cial duties have always been most promptly 
and faithfully dischaiged, and he has always 
been recognized as a useful and valued citi- 
zen of the communities in which his lot has 
been cast. His estimable wife is a member 



of the Methodist Episcopal church, and 
both are held in high regard by all who 
know them. 



WILLIAM THOMSON, of Unionville, 
is now living a retired life in the en- 
joyment of a rest which he has trul}' earned 
and richly deserves by reason of his indus- 
trious efforts of former years. As one of 
the highly respected and honored citizens of 
his community he is well entitled to repre- 
sentation in the history of his adopted 
county. 

Mr. Thomson was born in Ayrshire, Scot- 
land, March, 1822, and is a son of Thomas 
and Margaret (Skeycoch) Thomson, also 
natives of Ayrshire, the former born in 1777, 
the latter in 1779. The father was a sailor 
and sawyer, who spent his entire life in his 
native place, and there died in 1847. His 
father, John Thomson, was a large land 
owner and extensive farmer of Ayrshire. 
His wife, Janet Blue, was born in Clark 
Manor, Scotland. They had four children, 
two sons and two daughters, all of whom 
lived and died at their birthplace. Of the 
eleven children born to the parents of our 
subject three died in infancy; Mary wedded 
James Kirkwood and died in Scotland at 
the age of eighty-three years; Janet mar- 
ried William Miller and died in the same 
country and about the age of seventy years; 
Jeannie died at the age of eighteen; John 
was killed in Scotland while in the employ 
of a railroad company at the age of sixty- 
seven years; William, our subject, is the 
next of the family; Margaret married Rob- 
ert Dunlap and died when past sixty years 
of age; and Jeannie, the youngest of the 
family, is now deceased. 

William Thomson was educated in the 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



77 



parish schools of Scotland, and during his 
youth learned the weaver's trade. He also 
gained an excellent knowledge of carpenter- 
ing and cabinet-making. He remained in 
his native land until twenty-seven years of 
age, and at the age of twenty-five he mar- 
ried Miss Jane Burns, who was born in Ayr- 
shire in November, 1820. Two years later 
he came alone to the new world and first 
located in Maryland, where he was in the 
employ of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad 
as roadmaster of the division for three 
years. 

At the end of that time he was joined 
by his wife, whom he had left in Scotland, 
and soon after her arrival they removed to 
West Virginia, where they made their home 
for ten years, leaving that state just at the 
close of the war. There he followed farm- 
ing with good success. In 1866 he came 
to Whiteside county, Illinois, and for five 
years operated rented land near Round 
Grove, after which he purchased one hun- 
dred and sixty acres, which he immediately 
began to improve and cultivate. Two years 
later he added to his original purchase a one- 
hundred-and-twenty acre tract, and subse- 
quently bought eighty acres more, owning 
at the time he retired from active labor 
three hundred and sixty acres of fine farm- 
ing land. He made all the improvements 
upon his property with the exception of 
those on the eighty- acre tract which had 
already been improved. In connection with 
general farming, he was successful!}- en- 
gaged in stock raising, his specialty being 
draft horses. In 1887 he laid aside busi- 
ness cares and moved to Unionville, where 
he had purchased two and a quarter acres 
of improved land, where he now has a 
pleasant home and outbuildings. 

Mr. and Mrs. Thomson have had eight 



children, namely: (i) William, a successful 
farmer of Ustick township, who purchased 
two hundred and eighty acres of land owned 
by his father, married Bertha Hoover, and 
had eleven children, all living with the ex- 
ception of one son, George. (2) Archibald, 
who 0\vns and operates a fine farm of eight 
hundred acres in Plymouth county, Iowa, 
married Margaret Crease, and has three 
children, Stephen, Jeannie and William B. 
(3) Robert B., who has one hundred and 
sixty acres in the same county, married 
Mary Stiles, by whom he has two children 
and an adopted daughter. (4) Hugh, who also 
owns a good farm of one hundred and sixty 
acres in Plymouth county, Iowa, married 
Fanny McKee, of Ustick, and has three chil- 
dren. (5) Mary J. is the wife of David Har- 
rison, a retired farmer of Morrison, who 
still owns a farm in Union Grove township, 
and they have two children, Donald and 
Madge J. (6) Elizabeth W., who died in 
1882, was the first wife of David G. Har- 
rison, by whom she had three children: Ot- 
to, Jeannie and Euphemia. (7) Anna, who 
died in 1893, was the wife of Thomas Mat- 
thew, of Round Grove, and had four chil- 
dren, Archibald, Robert, Jeannie and Bes- 
sie, who are all married and have children — 
the great-grandchildren of our subject. 
Archibald Matthew has two children: Jean- 
nie, wife of W. Heath, of Union Grove 
township, has one child, Bessie; Bessie, 
wife of James Steiner, of Round Grove 
has one daughter, and Robert married Ger- 
trude Lewis and has one son. 

In his political views Mr. Thomson is a 
Prohibitionist. During the first year of the 
Civil war, while a resident of West Virginia, 
fie was one of the party that helped divide 
that state, and was one of the nine men 
tliat held the county of Tucker in the Union. 



78 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



At that time he was serving as county sur- 
veyor and was quite prominent and influen- 
tial. During his residence in Ustick town- 
ship, this county, he served as school direct- 
or, but never sought office, preferring to 
give his undivided attention to his business 
interests. His success in life is due to good 
management and hard work, and he well 
deserves the prosperity that has come to 
him. He is a worthy representative of that 
class of citizens who lead quiet, industrious, 
honest and useful lives, and constitute the 
best portion of a community. Religiously, 
both he and his wife are faithful members 
of the Presbyterian church of Morrison. 



ELI UPTON, an honored pioneer of 
Whiteside county, who is now living 
retired in Morrison, was born in Peterboro, 
Hillsboro county. New Hampshire, Septem- 
ber 28, 181 I, a son of Eli and Abigail (Snow) 
Upton, also natives of that state, where the 
father was proprietor of a gristmill for a 
great many years. He finally came west 
and spent the last eight years with our sub- 
ject in this county, where he died at the age 
of eighty-five years. As he was left an 
orphan at the age of two but little is known 
of his ancestry. The mother of our subject 
died many years ago at the age of thirty 
years. She had eight children, six sons and 
two daughters, of who Eli is the second in 
order of birth. He is the only one of the 
family now living with the exception of a 
half sister, by his father's second marriage, 
Mrs. Charles B. Sheldon, of Peterboro, New 
Hampshire. 

In his native state our subject passed his 
boyhood and youth, but on attaining his 
majority he went to Massachusetts, to learn 
the machinist's trade, and remained there 



three years. Later he obtained a position 
as a machinist in a woolen and cotton mill, 
where he was employed for two years, and at 
the end of that time went to Los Angeles, 
state of Sonora, Mexico, with Charles Peck, 
to set up and put in operation the machinery 
for a cotton mill to be built at that place. 
They left Boston, August 3, 1839, rounded 
the Horn, went up the Gulf of California, 
and crossed overland to Los Angeles, where 
they remained for nearly four years. On 
the 7th of February, 1844, they boarded a 
ship for San Blass, Mexico, from there 
crossed the continent to Tampico, Mexico, 
and by steamer proceeded to New Orleans, 
where they landed in March. They went 
up the Mississippi and Ohio rivers to Wheel- 
ing, West Virginia, and from that place 
proceeded by land to Peterboro, New Hamp- 
shire, where Mr. Upton was married in 
June, 1844, to Miss Elizabeth Ann New- 
comb, a daughter of John Newcomb, of that 
state. 

Soon after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. 
Upton started for Illinois, traveling by way 
of the Great Lakes to Chicago, which at 
that time was little better than a " mud- 
hole." There he purchased a team of 
horses, a wagon and some household uten- 
sils, and then continued on his journey to 
Whiteside county. On section 6, Lyndon 
township, he bought one hundred and eighty- 
five acres of land from Ambrose Maxwell, 
and there he made his home for ten years, 
at the end of which time he removed to 
Mount Pleasant township. On coming to 
the county the greater part of the land was 
still in its primitive condition, and there was 
plenty of wild game, including deer, prairie 
chickens, turkeys and quails and the wolves 
were also numerous. The prairie chickens 
were often so thick that in rising from our 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



79 



subject's cornfield the noise made by their 
wings sounded like thunder, and the heav- 
ens would be black with them. Mr. Upton 
continued to actively engage in (arming un- 
til 1882, when he removed to Morrison, 
where he has since made his home. At one 
time he owned eight hundred acres of land 
in the county, and at the time of his removal 
to the city still owned four hundred and 
forty acres. In Morrison, he and his son 
George Y. dealt in Percheron horses for 
twelve years, but since giving up that busi- 
ness he has lived retired, enjoying the fruits 
of his former toil. In his political views he 
is independent. He is highly respected and 
esteemed by all who know him, and in the 
records of Whiteside county's honored pio- 
neers his name should be among the fore- 
most. 

Mr. Upton has been called upon to 
mourn the loss of his estimable wife, who 
died June 9, 1890, at the age of sixty-eight 
years. Five children were born to them 
who reached years of maturity, one daugh- 
ter, Susan, died at the age of fifteen months. 
George Y. is represented on another page 
of this volume. John Eli married Mary 
Galbraith, now of Redfield, South Dakota, 
and died at the age of twenty-nine years, 
leaving three children. Joseph Snow mar- 
ried Augusta Rockwell, and they have six 
children and he is now engaged in farming 
in Fargo, North Dakota, making a specialty 
of wheat. Franklin A. married Ellen Pud- 
difoot, now of Windsor Park, Illinois, and 
died at the age of thirty-two years leaving 
four children. 



SAMUEL N. JAMES resides on section 
26, Clyde township, where he oper;ites 
his father's farm of one hundred and thirty- 



five acres. He is the owner of one hundred 
and fifty acres which he leases, and also 
owns forty acres which he operates, and is 
meeting with success as a general farmer 
and stock raiser. He was born in Clyde 
township, Whiteside county, July 25, i860, 
and is a son of Amos James, who was also 
born in the same township. On the home 
farm he grew to manhood, and in the com- 
mon schools of the township he received 
his education. The education received in 
the school room has, however, been supple- 
mented by practical knowledge received in 
the school of experience. He remained at 
home with his parents, assisting in the culti- 
vation of the home farm until he was twen- 
ty-two years of age, when he went to Da- 
kota and pre-empted one hundred and sixty 
acres of land, and for six years roughed it 
in that new country. 

After a residence of six years in Dakota, 
and having proved up his claim and secur- 
ing the deed, he sold the same and returned 
to his old home, concluding that White- 
side county was good enough for him. On 
his return he rented the farm where he now 
resides, and for a year and a half continued 
to manage it as he did his Dakota farm, 
without the aid of a "better half." Realiz- 
ing then that it " was not good for man to 
be alone," on the 2d of September, 1890, 
he was united in marriage with Miss Agnes 
E. Wells, who was born February 7, 1866, 
in Clyde township, Whiteside cotmty, and 
daughter of John and Catherine (Ruckel) 
Wells, the former a native of England, born 
in 1834, and the latter a native of Ireland, 
born in 1832, but who came to this country 
when in their youth, and were here married. 
They became the parents of nine children, 
all of whom are yet living: Charles, in Mount 
Pleasant township; Lenwood, also in Mount 



So 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Pleasant township; Irena, wife of Wm. Det- 
ra, and living in Clyde township; Agnes E., 
wife of our subject: George, residing in New- 
ton township; Fred, living in Clyde town- 
ship; Uiysses, Frank and Edward, at home. 

After their marriage, Mr. James took his 
young wife to the farm which has since been 
their home. Here four children have been 
born to them, two of whom, however, died 
in infancy. The living are Hazel M., born 
June 20, 1891, and Portus A., born January 
26, 1897. 

While residing in Dakota, Mr. James 
served his township as constable for a time, 
and since his return to Whiteside county he 
has served his district as school director, an 
office which he is now satisfactorily filling. 
In politics he is a stanch Republican. In his 
farming operations, in addition to the raising 
of grain, he makes a specialty of cattle and 
hogs which he feeds for the market. At 
times he also buys and ships to the market, 
and in all that he does, he gives his best ef- 
forts, and as a consequence success usually 
crowns them all. He is a good farmer, a 
kind and accommodating neighbor and en- 
joys the confidence and respect of all that 
know him. 



JONAS EDLUND. Many of the most 
enterprising and prosperous farmers of 
Whiteside county have come from the land 
beyond the sea, and through their own un- 
aided efforts have worked their way upward 
to a position of affluence. Among this num- 
ber is Jonas Edlund, who now owns a valu- 
able farm of three hundred and eighty acres 
on section 2, Ustick township. He was 
born in Northland, Sweden, January 3, 
1833. and is a son of Mickleson and Bertha 
(Fanquat) Edlund, who spent their entire 



lives at that place, where the father worked 
at the tailor's trade. He died at the age of 
seventy years; his wife at the age of sev- 
enty-five. To them were born ten children, 
all of whom reached years of maturity, but 
only the following are now living: Cather- 
ine, wife of John Johnson, of Sweden, by 
whom she has three children; Ann Eliza, 
widow of Jonas Immerson, b}' whom she 
had three children, and Jonas, our subject. 

Jonas Edlund was educated in the 
schools of his native land and was in the 
military service of his country for a time. 
Soon after attaining his majority he emi- 
grated to the new world and first located in 
Chicago, Illinois, where he worked as a 
laborer for two years. At the end of that 
time he came to \\'hiteside county, where 
he was employed in a lime kiln for two 
years, and then worked at the mason's 
trade for about twenty years. His first 
farm property consisted of one hundred and 
sixty acres of partially improved land, for 
which he paid thirty-seven and a half dollars 
per acre, and upon which he has since 
erected a good residence and substantial 
outbuildings. As an agriculturist he has 
met with excellent success and is now the 
owner of three hundred and eighty acres of 
land which he has placed under a high 
state of cultivation. He also has eight 
acres of timber land and is successfully en- 
gaged in general farming and stock raising. 

In 1882 Mr. Edlund was united in mar- 
riage with Mrs. Martha I. (Peterson) Ed- 
lund, also a native of Sweden, and the 
widow of our subject's brother, Gulick 
Edlund, who died when his son was only- 
three months old. He left three children, 
whom the mother kept together and sup- 
ported until her marriage to our subject. 
They are Elizabeth, now the wife of An- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



drew S. Durward, of Unionville; Bertha, 
wife of Henry Longnecker, of Ustick, and 
Nelson J., who now manages our subject's 
farm. He was born in 1869, and was mar- 
ried in I S96 to Minnie M. Patterson, who 
was born in Ustick township, in 1877, a 
daughter of W. J. and Mary E. (Cassel- 
man) Patterson, natives of Pennsylvania 
and New York respectively. Nelson J. Ed- 
lund and his wife have one son, Russell J. 
Mr. Edlund has practically lived retired 
from active business since 1888. For eight 
years his farm was operated by Mr. A. F. 
Durward, his wife's son-in-law, and since 
1896 Nelson J. Edlund has had charge of 
the same. Our subject is a stanch sup- 
porter of the Republican party and its prin- 
ciples, but has always declined office. He 
is an earnest, consistent Christian, a mem- 
ber of the Presbyterian church, in which he 
serves as elder. On coming to this country 
he was entirely ignorant of the English lan- 
guage and had no money with which to 
begin life here, but he has made the most 
of his opportunities, and being industrious, 
persevering and enterprising, has become 
one of the most substantial as well as one 
of the most reliable and highly respected 
citizens of his community. 



JOHN CLARK, deceased, was for many 
years one of the best known as well as 
most highly respected citizens of Whiteside 
county. He was born in Fredonia, Chau- 
tauqua county, New York, March 3, 1840, 
and was the son of Albert and Phoebe Clark, 
the former a native of England and the lat- 
ter of New York. They .were the parents 
of eight children, four sons and four daugh- 
ters, the sons all being now deceased. The 
daughters are Sarah, wife of H. A. Boyd, 



of Morrison, of whom mention is made else- 
where in this volume; Alice, wife of Ezra 
Poole, of Iowa; Maria, wife of William 
Green, also of Iowa; and Elizabeth, wife of 
Gabriel Green, living on the old home place 
in Fredonia, New York. 

In his native state our subject remained 
until he was fifteen years old, in the mean- 
time receiving a good common-school edu- 
cation, which was made practical use of in 
after years. In 1855 he left his old home 
and came to Whiteside county, where he 
began life in an humble way, working as a 
farm hand for Isaac Fletcher, of Clyde 
township, with whom he remained for sev- 
eral years, doing his duty faithfully and 
being rewarded with the confidence of his 
employer, who appreciated his services 
highly. Having saved a little money, he 
made a trip to Pike's Peak on a prospecting 
tour, and while there engaged in mining for 
a year, meeting with a fair degree of success 
and saving some money. Not being satis- 
fied with the life of a miner in that new 
western country, he determined to return 
to Whiteside county, and from the time he 
returned the success which attended him in 
after life began. 

On his return to Whiteside county, Mr. 
Clark located in Morrison, where he pur- 
chased two teams and trucks and engaged 
in business for himself, operating a dray 
line for a few years, and although the profit 
was necessarily small, he succeeded in laj'- 
ing by each year a portion of what he 
made, and later invested the same in real 
estate. He was fortunate in his invest- 
ments and success seemed to follow him in 
whatever business venture he engaged in. 
It was while yet engaged in business as a 
dra\man that he was, in September, 1862, 
united in marriage with Miss Jane Boyd, 



82 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



who was born in Scotland February 22, 
1840, and the daughter of William and 
Mary (Robertson) Boyd, who were natives 
of Scotland and the parents of six sons and 
four daughters, Jane being the ninth child 
in order of birth. (For a record of the 
Boyd family see sketches of P. R., John and 
H. A. Boyd, found elsewhere in this work.) 

To Mr. and Mrs. Clark were born four 
children. Charles A. grew to manhood and 
married Lena Edwards, a native of Iowa, 
and they had two children, John and Ed- 
ward. The former died at the age of five 
years, while the latter is yet living. The 
family now make their home in Sterling, 
where Mr. Clark is engaged in the gents' 
furnishing goods business, having a large 
and profitable trade. He is a good business 
man and has the confidence of the com- 
munity in which he resides. George H. is 
deceased. Nettie M. is the wife of Harry 
Smouse and they reside in Morrison, where 
he is engaged with the Refrigerator com- 
pany. Walter is deceased. 

Soon after his marriage Mr. Clark dis- 
posed of his dray line and purchased a farm 
south of Morrison, where for some years he 
engaged in agricultural pursuits, in which 
line he was quite successful. In his farm- 
ing operations he was ably assisted by his 
wife, who in his absence, and while en- 
gaged in other lines of business, took upon 
herself the management of the farm. For 
eighteen years they gave their personal at- 
tention to their farming interests, at the 
expiration of which time they returned to 
Morrison. 

While still making his home on the 
farm, for the greater part of the time Mr. 
Clark was engaged in other lines of busi- 
ness. He was an auctioneer of more than 
ordinary ability, and was known all over 



the northern part of the state as an auction- 
eer of thoroughbred horses and cattle, and 
for such sales his services were largely in 
demand. For a number of years he was 
also engaged in the livery business, selling 
out that line in 1885 to R. H. Donichy. 
For a time he was a stockholder and man- 
ager of the carriage works in Morrison, the 
firm being Furgeson & Clark. He was 
also in the grocery business for several 
years, managing the business alone without 
the aid of a partner. With others he en- 
gaged in the manufacture of brick and tile, 
in which line he was as usual successful. 
In most of his business undertakings he had 
a partner to look after that particular busi- 
ness while he gave his personal attention to 
other matters. He was a man of great ex- 
ecutive ability, and was enabled to plan and 
direct, leaving the execution to others, to 
their mutual benefit. 

After disposing of his farm, Mr. Clark 
invested the proceeds in propert}' on Mil- 
waukee avenue, Chicago, which has been 
disposed of since his death by his son 
Charles and the proceeds invested in land 
securities. In Morrison he invested a large 
amount in real estate and buildings, and at 
the time of his death he had large holdings. 

In politics Mr. Clark was a Democrat, 
and while he would invariably decline all 
political honors, took a great interest in po- 
litical affairs. Just before his death he was 
appointed by President Cleveland postmas- 
ter of Morrison, and the commission was 
received by him just before his death, which 
occurred on the 21st of November, 1895. 
Fraternally he was an Odd Fellow, holding 
membership in both the subordinate lodge 
and in the encampment. He was also a 
charter member of the Modern Woodmen 
of America in Morrison. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



83 



In the death of Mr. Clark, Whiteside 
county lost one of its most useful and 
highly respected citizens, one who was 
ready at ail times to do whatever he 
could to advance its material interests. He 
was generous to a fault, liberal to the poor 
and needy, giving away in charitable and 
benevolent purposes many hundreds of dol- 
lars. His death was sincerely mourned not 
alone by the bereaved widow and sorrowing 
children, but by the entire community 
which knew him so well, and which was his 
home for nearly forty years. Coming to 
the county a poor, friendless boy, by his 
strict integrity of character and steadfast- 
ness of purpose he won a place in the affec- 
tions of the people which will make his 
name revered for years to come, and his life 
work will be an incentive to others, while 
his virtues will be worthy of emulation. 

Mrs. Clark, who is an earnest and con- 
sistent member of the Presbyterian church, 
yet makes her home in Morrison, where her 
friends are many, and where she enjoys the 
love and respect of all who know her. 



JOHN GILBERT GREEN, a leading 
farmer and stock raiser of Ustick town- 
ship, residing on section 35, was born in 
Woodbine, Jo Daviess county, Illinois, Au- 
gust 25, 1862, and is a son of John H. and 
Margaret (Lowry) Green, the former born 
in Yorkshire, England, June 29, 1831, the 
latter on the Isle of Man, September 17, 
1844. Both were brought to America by 
their respective parents when quite small, 
and for many years have made their home 
in Whiteside county, now living retired in 
Morrison. More extended mention is made 
of them on another page of this volume. 
Of the six children born to them, one died 



in infancy, while the others are as follows: 
John G., our subject; Sarah J., wife of A. 
N. Abbott; R. May, wife of B. F. Hoover; 
and Phcebe and Benjamin, both at home 
with their parents. 

The early education of our subject was 
obtained in the district schools which he at- 
tended until eighteen years of age and then 
entered Fulton College, where he took an 
elective course. After completing his edu- 
cation he returned to the home farm in 
Ustick township, which his father had pur- 
chased in i86y. In 1889 he was united in 
marriage with Miss Lydia E. Steiner, who 
was born in Wayne county, Ohio, Novem- 
ber 16, 1861. Her parents, Adam and 
Fianna (Longnecker) Steiner, were natives 
of the same county, the former born in 
October, 1827, the latter in February, 1843. 
In 1869 they came to this county and now 
make their home in Ustick township. They 
have nine children, namely: Elsie, wife of 
D. Deter, of Carroll county, Iowa; Lydia 
E., wife of our subject; William L. , at 
home; Noah W., a druggist of Chicago; 
Anna, wife of William Jamison, of Ustick 
township; Jacob W., a farmer of Hopkins 
township; Daniel, Eva and Leander, all at 
home. The children born to our subject 
and wife are George Webster, Edna G., 
Arlie May, Elsie Pearl and Leola M. 

After his marriage Mr. Green operated 
the home farm with his father for four 
years, and the following year was engaged 
in the butcher business in Morrison. At 
the end of that time he returned to the farm 
and his father removed to Morrison, where 
he is now living retired. In connection 
with general farming our subject is engaged 
in stock raising, making a specialty of Po- 
land China hogs for the past five years. He 
keeps full-blooded and pedigreed stock, and 



84 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



in 1899 had a drove of one hundred and 
twenty of the finest hogs to be found in the 
county. He has a goodly number for sale 
each season. Any one interested in the 
industry will be treated very courteously by 
Mr. Green and will be given a guarantee 
for every animal purchased. He always 
has some of his hogs on exhibition at the 
county fairs, and has been fortunate in se- 
curing a good share of the premiums given 
by the fair association for such exhibits. 
He is also interested in thoroughbred short- 
horn cattle, and has been awarded premiums 
on his calves. He has a highly cultivated 
and well-improved farm of one hundred and 
ten acres on section 35, Ustick township, 
and owns a house and lot in Morrison. Po- 
litically he is an ardent Republican, and he 
has been a member of the township com- 
mittee and also of the Republican county 
committee. He has creditably filled the 
office of ta.x collector, overseer of highways 
for the past four years, and has also served 
as supervisor, having been appointed to fill 
an unexpired term. He is now a school 
director of his district and believes in having 
the best schools and teachers obtainable. 



M» 



RS. VIANA WYMAN, whose home is 
section 20, Mount Pleasant town- 
ship, has been a resident of Whiteside 
county for over fifty-five years, arriving 
here in pioneer days. The difference be- 
tween the past and the present can scarcely 
be realized, even by those who have been 
active participants in the development of 
the xounty. The present generation can 
have no conception of what was required by 
the early settlers in transforming the wilder- 
ness into a well settled and highly cultivated 
county. 



Mrs. Wyman was born in Erie county. 
New York, September 9, 1816, and is a 
daughter of Charles and Ruth Olds, also 
natives of New York, the former born near 
Whitehall, the latter in Oneida county. Her 
maternal grandparents were natives of Eng- 
land, and on their emigration to the United 
States located in New York. In 1834, in 
Erie county, our subject gave her hand in 
marriage to Henry Wyman, who was born 
in Connecticut in 1807, and died in 1861. 
As his father died when he was only five 
years old he was reared by friends of the 
family. After his marriage his mother lived 
with him for a number of years. 

Mr. and Mrs. Wyman began their do- 
mestic life in New York, where they con- 
tinued to make their home until 1844, which 
year witnessed their arrival in Whiteside 
county, Illinois. After living for one year 
in Lyndon township they removed to the 
farm on section 20, Mount Pleasant town- 
ship, where our subject still resides. 
Throughout life Mr. Wyman engaged in 
agricultural pursuits, and met with fair suc- 
cess in his undertakings. He purchased one 
hundred and sixty acres of land, but since 
his death his widow has since disposed of 
forty acres, leaving her one hundred and 
twenty acres of fine farming land, which 
has been successfully operated under her 
able management. 

Of the six children born to Mr. and 
Mrs. Wyman one died in infancy. The 
others are as follows: Mary Elizabeth is 
the wife of Henry Garrison, who resides on 
the home farm, and they have six children. 
Ruth Maria married E. A. Garrison, and 
died in 1881, leaving five children. Hen- 
rietta died unmarried in 1869. Theodore is 
a retired farmer living in Vinton, Iowa, near 
which place he owns land, and he has a 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



85 



family of five children. William Henry is 
superintendent of a mine in Colorado. Mrs. 
Wyman has one great-great-grandchild, 
making five generations of the family now 
living. Her family is noted for longevity, 
her grandfather, Daniel Thurston, having 
only lacked three months of being one 
hundred years of age at the time of his 
death, which occurred in Michigan. He 
enjoyed e.xcellent health, never requiring 
the services of a physician. Mrs. Wyman 
also had an uncle who lived to be nearly one 
hundred years of age, and her father was 
seventj'-seven at the time of his death, which 
occurred in New York state. Of his ten 
children one died young, while eight reached 
years of maturity, but Mrs. Wyman is the 
only one now living. She well remembers 
when this region was wild and unim- 
proved, and has seen unbroken prairies trans- 
fornied into fine farms. On locating here 
there was only one house between her home 
and Lyndon. Her farm is conveniently lo- 
cated near Morrison, and is now of the best 
in the conununity. .\ number of years ago 
her residence, with its contents, was de- 
stroyed by fire, but was soon replaced with 
the comfortable little home she now occu- 
pies. Religiously she is a member of the 
Universalist church, and she is highly re- 
spected and esteemed by all who have the 
pleasure of her acquaintance. 



B FRANKLIN HOOVER is one of the 
most intelligent and progressive farm- 
ers of Ustick township, who is now success- 
fully operating his father's farm of two hun- 
dred acres on section 21. He was born in 
that township, near where he now resides, 
November 4, 1868, and is a son of Henry 
and Mary A. (Brown) Hoover, who are now 



making their home in Morrison, the father 
having retired from active labor. Both are 
natives of Pennsylvania, the former born 
near Aaronsburg, the latter in Philadelphia. 
Soon after their marriage, in March, 1857, 
they came to Whiteside county, Illinois, and 
have since been identified with its interests.. 
Here the father was principally engaged in 
agricultural pursuits. (His sketch will be 
found on another page of this volume.) 

The primary education of our subject 
was obtained in the district schools near his 
boyhood home, but at the age of fourteen 
he accompanied his parents on their removal 
to Sterling, where he attended the high 
school for three years. At the end of that 
period he commenced teaching in the dis- 
trict schools, and was thus employed for 
four years, after which he engaged in farm- 
ing for his father for one year. The follow- 
ing year he was a student at the State Nor- 
mal School at Normal, Illinois, where he 
pursued a teacher's course, and subsequently 
he taught school in Fenton for some time. 
Later he purchased one hundred and si.xt}' 
acres of land in partnership with his father, 
but after operating it for si.x years he sold 
his interest to his father. 

On the 22nd of June, 1897, Mr. Hoover 
was united in marriage with Miss R. May 
Green, who was born in Ustick township, 
November 29, 1873, and was also a success- 
ful teacher in the district schools for three 
years prior to her marriage. Her parents 
are John H. and Margaret (Lawry) Green, 
the former a native of England, the latter 
of the Isle of Man. However, both have 
been residents of this country from an early 
age, the father being only eight years old at 
the time of his arrival here, while the 
mother was just a year old. (See sketch on 
another page of this work.) To them were 



86 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



born six children, one of whom died in in- 
fancy. Those living are John G., a resi- 
dent of Ustick township; Sarah J., wife of 
A. N. Abbott, whose sketch appears else- 
where in this work; R. May, wife of our 
subject; and Phcebe and Benjamin P., both 
at home. 

After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. 
Hoover located on his father's place, which 
he rents and successfully operates, being en- 
gaged in general farming and stock raising. 
Fraternally he is a member of Grove lodge. 
No. 257, I. O. O. F., of Morrison, and also 
belongs to the Mystic Workers, in which 
lodge he has held the office of vice- master, 
and has represented his lodge in the supreme 
lodge. The Republican party finds in him 
a supporter of its principles, and he has 
been honored with local office, having served 
as township clerk, school treasurer two 
years, and school director for a few years. 
He and his wife hold membership in the 
Methodist Episcopal church at Cottonwood 
and occupy an enviable position in the best 
social circles of their community. 



ISAAC AUSTIN, whose farm is conven- 
iently located near Lyndon, owns and 
operates three hundred acres of rich land, 
lying in Lyndon and Mount Pleasant town- 
ships. This place is neat and thrifty in ap- 
pearance and indicates the careful super- 
vision of the owner. The substantial resi- 
dence and outbuildings are surrounded by 
well-tilled fields, cultivated by the latest 
improved machinery, and the owner of this 
desirable place is accounted one of the 
most progressive agriculturists of the com- 
munity. 

Mr. Austin was born in Tioga county, 
Pennsylvania, September 4, 1833, and is a 



son of Steward and Louisa (Reynolds) 
Austin, the former a native of Oneida coun- 
ty, New York, and the latter of Tioga 
county, Pennsylvania. Their marriage was 
celebrated in the Keystone state, and they 
became the parents of si.x children, two of 
whom died in infancy. Hiram married 
Laura Morse, and to them were born seven 
children, — Etta, Lyman, Cora, Lester, 
Clara, Phcebe and Ray. The mother died 
in Illinois and Hiram Austin afterward re- 
moved to Kansas, where he has since mar- 
ried again. He is now living in Cowley 
county, Kansas. William was one of the 
early settlers of the Sunflower state, and is 
now living in Dickinson county. Isaac is 
the next of the family. Lenore is the widow 
of Charles L. Conyne, of Lyndon, and has 
five children, — Ida, Martin, Stewart, John 
and Lola. In 1847 Steward Austin removed 
from Pennsylvania to Illinois, making an 
overland trip, and located on a farm owned 
by Lyman Reynolds, one of the early set- 
tlers of the county. He was a whole-souled 
man of kindly spirit and generous disposi- 
tion, sheltering all who came to him in 
those pioneer days. After a time he pur- 
chased the farm on which he had settled, 
making his home there until his death. He 
was one of the leading farmers of the com- 
munity and had many warm friends. His 
wife died before the removal to Illinois. 

Isaac Austin attended school for a short 
time in Pennsylvania, but though his edu- 
cational privileges were meager, reading, 
experience and observation have brought 
him a broad general knowledge. He re- 
mained with his father until eighteen years 
of age, and then purchased a half interest 
in the old homestead. His brother Hiram 
purchased the other half, and together they 
pre-empted eighty acres. At the age of 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



87 



eighteen, Isaac Austin went to California 
on a prospecting tour, making the journey 
overland with six yoke of oxen, one wagon 
and five men, two being from Illinois and 
three from Comanche, Iowa. This was in 
the year 1852, and Mr. Austin remained on 
the Pacific slope until 1856, residing in 
Placer and Nevada counties. He made 
some money during his sojourn in the west 
and upon his return he resumed agricultural 
pursuits, adding to his property, at different 
times, tracts of seventy-five and one hun- 
dred and twenty acres of land. He there- 
fore has at the present time a very valuable 
and desirable farm of three hundred acres, 
and in his farming operations he follows 
the most approved methods and has there- 
fore met with creditable success. 

In September 1859. he married Cornelia 
A. Smith, who was born in New York and 
during her early girlhood came with her 
parents to Illinois in 1840. Two children 
were born of this union, but one died in child- 
hood. The other, Walter, is now a farmer 
of Lyndon township. He married Chloe 
Joyce, and they have four children, — Rex 
Harry, Mary and Clarence. Mrs. .Vustin 
died in 1865, and March 2, 1869 Mr. Austin 
was again married, his second union being 
with Lola Hanson, daughter of Jacob and 
Virginia (Benham) Hanson, who are now 
residents of Iowa. Mrs. Austin was born in 
Dutchess county. New York, in 1853, and 
by her marriage became the mother of seven 
children, but two died in infancy. Floyd 
was drowned in Rock river at the age of four- 
teen years. The others are Belle, wife of 
Warner Hurlbut,a butcher of Prophetstown. 
by whom she had two children, Winnie and 
Essie; Effie, wife of Fred Pratt, who 
operates a creamery in Bureau county, Illi- 
pois; Edna, a student in the Fulton schools; 



and Winnie, who is attending school in 
Lyndon. Mr. Austin cast his first vote for 
General Scott while in California, and since 
the organization of the Republican party he 
has been one of its stanch supporters. 
Various offices have been offered him, but 
he has always refused to serve except as path 
master and school directer, in which posi- 
tions he has rendered effective and able 
service to his fellow townsmen. He is a 
Master Mason and he and his vv-ife belong to 
the Order of the Eastern Star. Highly re- 
spected, they well deserve mention in this 
volume. 



FREDERICK F. WILLIAMS, who now 
owns and operates a well improved 
farm on section 27, Clyde township, has 
been a citizen of Whiteside county for al- 
most half a century. He was born on board 
a ship that was lying at anchor at a port in 
Australia, April 6, 1855, and is the son of 
Frederick J. and Elizabeth (Tooley) Will- 
iams, both of whom were of English birth. 
Frederick J. Williams was a ship carpenter 
and boatswain, which occupations he fol- 
lowed for about thirty years. Having con- 
cluded to abandon the sea, in 1856 he came 
to \\'hiteside county and purchased a farm 
of eighty acres in Ustick township and con- 
tinued to engage in farming until his death 
in 1 87 1. His wife preceded him to the 
unknown world some three years. They 
were the parents of five children, all of 
whom are yet living. P'rederick F. is the 
subject of this sketch. Catherine is the 
wife of Charles Hole, a plasterer by trade, 
and with their four children they reside in 
Exeter, Nebraska. Alice is the wife of 
William Wallace, by whom she has fi^'e 
children. They reside in Exeter, Nebraska, 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



where he is engaged in the banking business. 
Walter, unmarried, resides in Omaha, Ne- 
braska. Annie is the wife of Edward Rhy- 
nard, of Freeport, lUinois, where he is em- 
ployed as bookkeeper for the Standard Oil 
Company. They have four living children. 

The subject of this sketch was about one 
year old when he was brought by his par- 
ents to this country. In the public schools 
of Ustick township he obtained a common- 
school education. He remained with his 
parents until he was thirteen years old, 
when he worked as a farm hand for various 
farmers until he accumulated enough money 
to start in business for himself. 

In 1881 Mr. Williams was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Sarah J. Robertson, who 
was born in Ustick township, and daughter 
of Joseph K. and Mary Robertson, and to 
them have been born four children — Annie, 
George, Agnes and Ellen. 

After his marriage Mr. Williams rented- 
a farm for six years and met with good suc- 
cess as a general farmer and stock raiser. 
In 1888 he purchased the farm where he 
now lives, an unimproved place of one hun- 
dred and sixty acres. In the years that 
have passed he has devoted his undivided 
attention to its improvement, and the result 
is shown in a farm of \\hich he has just 
reason to be proud. He has carried on 
general farming and stock raising, never 
having run off on any hobby. In addition 
to his farming operations he has for about 
twenty years engaged in well drilling, meet- 
ing with good success in that line of work, 
and thus adding to his general income. 

While averse to office holding. Mr. Will 
iams served six years as road commissioner. 
In politics he is a Republican, and believing 
heartily in the principles of his party in the 
various campaigns he gives much of his time 



to the party's interest. Believing in the 
public school system of his adopted country 
he has served several years as school trus- 
tee. But it is as a farmer that he is best 
known and as he would be known, although 
for some years he was engaged in purchas- 
sing and shipping stock, during which time 
he extended the circle of his friends and 
acquaintances. 



JOHN F. HECKER is a prominent and 
successful business man of Morrison, 
where he has made his ho:ne since May, 
1857. He started out in life for himself 
with nothing but his own indomitable en- 
ergy, and his accumulation of this world's 
goods is attributable to his good judgment in 
predicting the future development of the 
county and consequently the enhanced prices 
of real estate, combined with the active co- 
operation of his life. 

Mr. Hecker was born in Orefield, near 
Allentown, Pennsylvania, July 9, 1830, a 
son of John and Elizabeth (Doutt) Hecker. 
The father was born in Lehigh county, the 
same state, June 21, 1806, and was a son 
of Yost Hecker, and grandson of Rev. John 
E. Hecker, a minister of the German Re- 
formed church, who came to this country 
from Nassau, Germany, in 1752 and settled 
in Lehigh county. He was quite prominent 
and was the first pastor of the church at 
Petersville, where on the one hundredth an- 
niversary of his preaching, twenty-seven 
years ago, erected a monument to his mem- 
ory. Yost Hecker, grandfather of our sub- 
ject, grew to manhood there and learned 
the trade of a tailor, which he continued to 
follow throughout life, working for the well- 
to-do farmers at their homes, a very common 
practice in that day, known as "whipping 




J. F. HECKER. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



9t 



the cat." He had a number of sons who 
learned the trade with him, inchiding John, 
father of our subject, who was only twelve 
years old at the time of his father's death, 
so completed his appprenticeship with his 
brothers. 

In his native county, John Hecker, Sr. , 
married Miss Elizabeth Doutt, who was 
born April 12, 1809. Her father, John 
Doutt, was a prominent tanner living near 
Sunbury, Pennsylvania, where her mother 
died, after which he married again and 
moved to the Robbs community near Zeli- 
enople, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, 
where he conducted a successful business 
until his death. The parents of our subject 
continued their residence in Lehigh county 
until October, 1838, when with their fam- 
ily of four children, they started for 
Stark county, Ohio, a distance of four 
hundred miles over mountains. In a 
false end board of the wagon they had a 
box containing eight hundred dollars in sil- 
ver. Although only eight years of age, our 
subject walked the entire distance with the 
e.xception of twenty miles. (On awakening 
one morning he found himself unable to 
walk, owing to the long tramp the day be- 
fore, and was allowed to ride for a time.) 
The family settled at West Brookfield, two 
miles from Massilon, in a little village of 
two hundred inhabitants, which was located 
in the midst of the forest two miles from 
the Ohio & Erie canal. Here the farmers 
from fifty to seventy-five miles came to ship 
their grain, and our subject has counted as 
many as four hundred teams on one road in 
a day. The father became quite a promi- 
nent man of West Brookfield, and held the 
office of postmaster under President Taylor 
for four years from 1849, and also filled dif- 
ferent township offices. He was a strong 



Whig and later a Know Nothing, though he 
was still known as a Whig. On the dissolu- 
tion of that party he joined the Democracy. 
In the spring of 1854 he left Ohio and came 
to Sterling, Whiteside county, Illinois. In 
Hopkins township he secured one hundred 
and sixty acres of land with a Mexican 
soldier's land warrant, paying for the same 
seventy-five cents per acre. After spending 
one year in Sterling, he removed to his farm, 
on which he had erected a residence and 
made other needed improvements. On ac- 
count of his wife's failing health, he finally 
sold the place in 1864, for forty-five dollars 
per acre, and returned to Sterling, where he 
lived retired until called from this life in 
1886, at the age of eighty years. His 
estimable wife died in January, 1883. They 
were members of the First Lutheran church 
of Sterling, and he was one of its trustees 
and always took an active part in church 
affairs. 

John F. Hecker, whose name introduces 
this sketch, is the second in order of birth 
in a family of ten children. He received a 
good practical education in the common 
schools of West Brookfield, Ohio, and at 
the age of eleven years commenced learning 
the tailor's trade with his father. He con- 
tinued to work with him until April 19, 
1853, when he left home with the purpose 
of securing a better education. He started 
on foot for Delaware, Ohio, but the day 
was so bad that he became disgusted and 
was pursuaded to stop at Mansfield and go 
to work at his trade. He remained there 
until the 4th of July, when he returned 
home for a visit. 

In August, 1853, Mr. Hecker came to 
Dixon, Illinois, where he worked for a 
merchant tailor until the first of January, 
1855, and then came to Sterling, where he 



92 



THF BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



opened a shop and engaged in business on 
his own account. He located there the 
year the Northwestern Railroad was built 
through the place, and was the only tailor 
of the town at that time where he enjoyed 
quite a good trade until May, 1857, the date 
of his removal to Morrison, then a growing 
village. At that time it was his intention 
to stay only a year, but he remained and has 
since made his home here. He was en- 
gaged in business as a merchant tailor until 
June 17, 1872, and during that time in- 
vested his savings in real estate, and in this 
he displayed e.xcellent judgment and good 
business ability. Since 1872 he has devoted 
his entire time and attention to the loan and 
real estate business with most gratifying 
success and is now the owner of valuable 
property in the city and surrounding country 
and is a capitalist as well. 

On the 1st of February, 1882, Mr. 
Hecker married Mrs. Celia Holland, a na- 
tive of Beechville, Canada, and a daughter 
of Morris L. Green, of Sterling. To them 
have been born two children, Ida Frances 
and Morris L. The family have a fine 
home at No. 401 West Grove street. They 
attend and support the Presbyterian church 
and are held in high regard by all who know 
them. While engaged in the clothing busi- 
ness, Mr. Hecker served as assistant post- 
master for some time, and in all the rela- 
tions of life has been found true to every 
trust reposed in him. 



FRANCIS MARION THOMAS, who is 
now living a retired life in Morrison, 
was born in Mt. Pleasant township, White- 
side county, December 27, 1843, and is the 
son of G. W. and Mary Thomas, of whom 
mention is made elsewhere in this work. 



On the old farm in his native township he 
spent his boyhood and youth, and in the 
district schools of the township and in the 
public schools of Morrison he received his 
education. He remained at home, assist- 
ing in farm work until in August, 1862, 
when the war for the union being in prog- 
ress, and having reached the age required 
for enlistment, he became a member of 
Company F, Ninety-third lUinoiss Volun- 
teer Infantry. With his regiment he went 
from Chicago to Memphis, Tennessee, in 
November of that year. At that place the 
regiment spent the winter of 1862-3, and 
in the spring it was sent down the river 
in the Vicksburg campaign. It was first 
sent to Yazoo Pass, and returned from there 
on the west side of the river below Vicks- 
burg. Crossing the river, it had an engage- 
ment with the enemy at Jackson, Tennessee, 
with the loss of a few men. On the 1 6th of 
May, 1863, Mr. Thomas was taken prisoner, 
and after being held for three days was par- 
oled and returned to the Union lines. He 
was then sent home where he remained 
about three months until he was duly e.x- 
changed, when he returned to his regiment, 
with which he remained until the close of 
the war. 

Mr. Thomas returned to his regiment in 
time tobe'with it in the Chattanooga cam- 
paign. He was in the battle of Missionary 
Ridge, November 25, 1863, and later in the 
battle of Chickamauga. The next engage- 
ment in which he participated was at Al- 
toona, Georgia, a hard fought battle, which 
was later made famous by the song based on 
the message of General Sherman, "Hold 
the fort, for I am coming." The Ninety- 
third Regiment was with Sherman in his 
march to the sea, and spent the winter at 
Savannah, Georgia, and was later at Col- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



93 



umbia. South Carolina, when that place 
was burned. It was also one of the num- 
ber in the grand review at Washington at 
the close of the war. In the three years 
in which it was in service it traveled two 
thousand six hundred miles on foot, and 
about three thousand six hundred miles in 
boats and on cars, a total distance of some six 
thousand miles. Its record was a commend- 
able one, and it was finally mustered out 
June 23, 1865, in Louisville, Kentucky. 

On receiving his discharge, Mr. Thomas 
returned to his home and again took up his 
work as a farmer. On the 22d of March, 
1866, he was united in marriage with Miss 
Maggie Hawk, a native of Pennsylvania, 
born July 13, 1846, and daughter of Daniel 
F. and Harriet (Martin) Hawk, both of 
whom were also born in Pennsylvania, the 
former November 24, 1798, and the latter 
October 14, 1817. They were married in 
their native state and were the parents of 
eleven children, as follows: Henry, who 
was born December 23, 1839, enlisted in 
the Ninety-third Illinois Volunteer Infantry, 
and in the same company with our subject. 
He was wounded in the battle of Missionary 
Ridge, and died ten days after, December 
5, 1863. Mr. Thomas remained with him 
all night on the battle field, and went with 
him to the hospital, remaining with him 
until he died. He reported his death to the 
bereaved parents, and was thus made ac- 
quainted with his future wife. Robert, 
born March 11, 1842, was also a soldier in 
the Civil war, enlisting in the One Hundred 
and Twenty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infan- 
tr}-. He died July 7, 1865, in Memphis, 
Tennessee, from fever contracted while in 
the service. Mary, born January 9, 1844, 
is now the wife of James Y. McCall, and 
they have two children, George and Hattie. 



Mr. McCall is the present supervisor of 
Newton township. Maggie, the fourth in 
order of birth, is the wife of our subject. 
Hiram S., born April 28, 1850, married 
Clara McCall, and they have six children, 
Hugh, Lorena, Maud, John, Annie and 
Ross. They reside in Newton township. 
Arthur D., born September 11, 1852, mar- 
ried Belle Booth, and with their four chil- 
dren — Edward, Belle and Beulah, twins, 
and Arthur, — they now reside in Pamona, 
California, having moved to that state in 
1899. John S., born October 26, 1857, 
married Lizzie Blean, and they have four 
children — Arthur, William, Pearl and Het- 
tie. They reside in Newton township. 
Joseph C, born April 26, i860, married 
Cora Turney, and their five children are: 
Maggie, Edna and Eva, twins; and John 
H. and Delia J., twins. Their home is in 
Fenton township. Daniel F. Hawk came 
with his family to Rock Island county in 
1857, and for one year rented a farm. He 
then purchased a farm of two hundred acres 
in Newton township, Whiteside county, 
which he continued to cultivate until his 
death, February 2, 1877. His wife sur- 
vived him some years, dying July 3, 1892. 
Soon after his marriage, Mr. Thomas 
purchased a farm of eighty acres in Mount 
Pleasant township, on which he resided for 
twelve years. On that farm their only 
child was born — Henry J., born October 
14, 1867. He grew to manhood and mar- 
ried Ola McNutt, and they reside on the 
old homestead of his Grandfather Hawk 
which was purchased by his father in 1879, 
and on which he lived until his removal to 
Morrison in 1889. Three children have 
blessed the union of Henry J. and Ola 
Thomas — E. Wayne, George Lee and Mar- 
guerite. 



94 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



While engaged in farming Mr. Thomas 
was quite successful, and only retired that 
he might give his son the opportunity of ac- 
quiring a good education. For two years 
the son attended college in Mount Vernon, 
Iowa, where his school life ended. 

Mr. Thomas has had the confidence of 
his neighbors to an unlimited degree. His 
honesty, faithfulness and good judgment 
has been recognized by them in being se- 
lected to settle two very large estates and 
several minor ones. While residing in 
Newton township he served as school 
treasurer for seven years. In politics he is 
a Republican, the principles of which party 
he has always been a stanch advocate. 
For many years he has been an active 
member of the Methodist Episcopal church, 
as has also his wife and son, the latter 
now being superintendent of the Sunday- 
school in Newton township. While resid- 
ing on the farm Mr. Thomas also took an 
active part in the work of the Sunday- 
school. For twenty-two years he was a 
trustee of the church, and for many years 
served as steward. He has had the inter- 
est of his Master's cause at heart and fur- 
nished the means to educate a young Jap- 
anese man for evangelistic work, it requir- 
ing eight years to properly instruct him in 
the work. Few men in Whiteside county 
have more earnest and steadfast friends 
than Mr. Thomas, and his life has been 
such as to merit the esteem of all. 



CHRISTIAN C. ROBERTSON, whose 
home is on section 12, Ustick town- 
ship, Whiteside county, Illinois, is one of 
the leading agriculturists of his community, 
being enterprising, energetic and reliable. 
Although he is still a young man, his popu- 



larity is established on a firm basis — that of 
his own well-tested merit. 

Mr. Robertson was born on his present 
farm May 22, 1867, a son of Joseph K. 
Robertson, a native of Indiana, who was 
born on a farm near New Albany, Septem- 
ber 7, 1825. His parents, John and Re- 
becca (Riddle) Robertson, were early set- 
tlers of that state and also pioneers of Cass 
county, Illinois, where they located when 
Joseph K. was only three years old. Both 
have long been dead, the grandfather dying 
December 22, 1870, the grandmother in 
January, 1839. 

Joseph K. Robertson grew to manhood 
in Cass county, where he followed farming 
for a time, and there he was united in mar- 
riage to Miss Mary Needham, who was born 
in West Milton, Yorkshire, England, May 
II, 1834, and was ten years of age when 
brought to this country by her parents, 
John and Elizabeth (Poshley) Needham, 
also natives of England. In their family 
were only two children, the older being 
Thomas, who died in this country about 
1879. In 1853 Mr. and Mrs. Robertson 
came to Whiteside county, where he took 
up land and began to make a home for him- 
self and wife. As he succeeded in his un- 
dertakings, he added to his first purchase 
from time to time until at his death he 
owned four hundred and fifty acres of valu- 
able land. He died September 26, 1897, 
honored and respected by all who knew 
him. Politically he was a Democrat, and 
on his party ticket was elected to several 
township offices, including those of col- 
lector and school trustee, the duties of 
which he discharged in a capable manner. 

To Joseph K. and Mary (Needham) Rob- 
ertson were born nine children, namely: 
(1) John H. is a farmer of Graham, Noda- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



95 



way county, Missouri. (2) Sarah is the 
wife of F. V. Williams, a farmer of Cl3de 
township, Whiteside county, and they have 
four children: Annie E., George, Mary 
Agnes and Helen. (3) James B., a resi- 
dent of Missouri, married Sarah Lisle, a 
native of this state, and they have three chil- 
dren: Annie, Joseph and Florence. (4) 
Joseph is a farmer of Union Grove town- 
ship. (5) Isaac N. died when quite young. 
(6) Mary A. is at home. (7) Susan E. died 
young. (8) Margaret E. is at home. (9) 
Christian C. , our subject, completes the 
family. 

During his boyhood and youth Christian 
C. Robertson attended the district schools 
near his home, and later completed a busi- 
ness course at Fulton College, from which 
he was graduated in 1887. He has always 
lived on the home farm, and since his father's 
death has had charge of, the same, while 
previously he assisted his father in its man- 
agement. It consists of two hundred and 
forty-nine acres, on sections 13, 14, 23 and 
24, and he has displayed excellent business 
ability and sound judgment in its operation. 
The father erected the buildings upon the 
place, consisting of a comfortable modern 
residence and substantial outbuildings, and 
our subject has made other improvements 
since it came into his control. In connec- 
tion with general farming he carries on stock 
raising with marked success. He is a Dem- 
ocrat in politics but has never been an as- 
pirant for official honors, though he has 
served as school- director in his district. 
Socially, he is quite prominent, belonging to 
Dunlap lodge. No. 321, F. & A. M., of 
Morrison; the Mystic W'orkers, No. 9, of 
Ustick, of which he is master; and Ustick 
camp, No. 3995, M. W. A., of which he is 
now clerk. 



DENNIS AUSTIN. For over forty-five 
years this gentleman has resided in 
Whiteside county and his name is insepara- 
bly connected with its agricultural and 
stock-raising interests. His thoroughly 
American spirit and great energy has en- 
abled him to mount from a lowly position 
to one of affluence, and he is now living re- 
tired in Morrison. 

Mr. Austin was born In Switzerland 
county, Indiana, December 30, 1825, a son 
of William and Margaret (Livings) Austin. 
The father was born in New York, Novem- 
ber 9, 1795, and when only seven years old 
lost his parents, Isaac and Deborah (Rey- 
nolds) Austin, who were born in the. New 
England states, and had six children, 
namely: Isaac, Joel, Stewart, Seymour, 
Sarah and William. The mother of our 
subject was born in New Jersey, April 2, 
1799, and was a daughter of Daniel and 
Polly (Ellison) Livings. Her father was 
born September 2, 1776, and died October 
7, 1863, while her mother was born in 
1769,- and died in 1852. William Austin, 
father of our subject, was a soldier in the 
war of 18 12 at the age of eighteen years. 
From his native state he went to Ohio, 
where he made his home for two years on 
a farm, and spent the following two years 
in Indiana, where he owned large tracts of 
land. On selling his property there in 
1854, he came to Whiteside county, Illi- 
nois, and in Mount Pleasant township pur- 
chased four hundred acres of land, on which 
he made his home until his death, October 
22, 1859. He was one of the most suc- 
cessful farmers of the county and was 
highly respected by all who knew him. 
His wife survived him several years, dying 
on the 3d of October, 1877. 

To this worthy couple were born the 



96 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



following children: (i) Ezra died in in- 
fancy. (2) Maria, born in New York, 
January 27, 1820, married Joseph Myers 
and died October 3, 1877. Their children 
were Indiana, who died at the age of twelve 
years; Job, who died at the age of twenty- 
six; Florence, who died in 1892; John; 
Joseph, and Victoria, wife of Alexander 
McClennan. (3) Miranda, born in March, 
1822, was married in 1840 to Silas Rich- 
mond, who died, leaving one child, Silas, 
who died in 1858. In 1847 she wedded 
Henry Murphy, who died leaving four chil- 
dren, Charles, Clark, Almeda and Julius, 
all residents of Kansas. Her third hus- 
band, Thomas Rock, she married in 1858, 
and by that union had twin sons, Clarence 
and Clinton. (4) Daniel L., born Octo- 
ber 22, 1823, was married in 1846, to 
Myra A. Gary, and they had six children: 
Myra J., wife of John McGregor, of Win- 
field, Kansas; Celia A., wife of Noah Vest, 
of Storm Lake, Iowa; George W. , who 
married Eveline Hurd and lives in Storm 
Lake; Charles W. ; Augustus E., who was 
married in July, 1884, to Gertie Cobleigh, 
and John. After the death of his first wife 
Daniel L. married again and by the second 
union had one daughter, Sue. (5) Dennis, 
our subject, is the next of the family. 
(6) Jonathan, born in 1828, died at the 
age of two years. (7) Silas R., born De- 
cember 6, 1830, is a retired farmer of Lyn- 
don, Whiteside county. He was married 
in i860, to Fanny McGee, and to them were 
born six children: Marion; Lettie; Carrie, 
deceased; Annie; Norma, and Ermie. (8) 
Martin V., born in 1833, was married, in 
1857, to Hannah M. McGee, and had eight 
children: Olive M. ; William G. ; Nellie; 
Nettie; Bert; Harry; Edna; Vernie, and 
Silas, deceased. (9) Georgiana, born in 



1837, is the wife of Homer Olmstead, of 
Ordway, Colorado, and they have five chil- 
dren: Alice, Minnie, Nellie, Charles and 
Marion. (10) William S., born in 1841, 
is a resident of Unionville and is employed 
as a stock buyer by Baker Brother, of Mor- 
rison. He was married, in 1867, to Eliza 
Harris, who died in 1898. He had six chil- 
dren: Charles B. S. ; Edith M.; Mary L. ; 
Homer, deceased; Glen H., and Marguer- 
ite E. 

Dennis Austin was educated in the sub- 
scription schools of Indiana, which he was 
only able to attend through the winter 
months as his services were needed on the 
home farm in summer. He remained under 
the parental roof until he was married, Sep- 
tember 17, 1848, to Miss Harriet Gary, who 
was born in Allegany county. New York, 
June 4, 1 83 1, a daughter of Charles and 
Eunice (Spalding) Gary, natives of Connect- 
icut and Vermont, respectively. Her pa- 
ternal grandmother, Mrs. Esther (Bucking- 
ham) Gary, was a representative of one of 
the early pioneer families of Connecticut. 
From New York the Gary family removed 
to Indiana, where Mrs. Austin's parents both 
died. 

Ten children were born to our subject 
and his wife, (i) Emory W. , born May 
19, 1848, was drowned in Rock creek at 
the age of twelve years. (2) Millard F., 
born October 27, 1850, is now a prosperous 
farmer of Kansas. He was married, Sep- 
tember 4, 1873, to Alice Moss, and has six 
children: Ethel, now the wife of Marion 
Covey, of Miltonvale, Kansas; Ray; Lela; 
Josephine; Mabel; and Hazel. (3) Fr.'.mk 
P., born March 20, 1853, is a retired farmer 
of Clark, South Dakota. He was married, 
February 17, 1874, and had six children: 
Emma; Emery, who died in 1889; Arthur; 



TlHE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



97 



Frank; Lillian; and Glen D. (4) Harrison 
C, born April 9, 1855, is a successful 
farmer living near Fillmore, Nebraska. He 
was married in 1878, to Emma R. FoUans- 
bee, and had one child, Jennie M., who was 
born in 1879, and died in 1896. (5) Esther 
W. , born April 20, 1857, was married, De- 
cember 27, 1876, to S. A. Ma.xwell, who is 
a teacher in Fulton College and lives near 
Morrison. They have four children: Edith 
L. , who was born January 4, 1878, and 
was married in 1897, to L. H. Smith, by 
whom she has one child, Harold; Ralph, 
born in 1881; V'era J., born in 1883; and 
Harold A., born in 1889. (6) Olive B., 
born September 17, i860, was married, 
September 17, 1880, to Frank Weimer, now 
of South Dakota, and they had six children: 
Roy; Austin, deceased; Eva; Grace; Ada; 
and Frank. (7) Lincoln A., born January 
II, 1864, is unmarried and is a successful 
farmer of Clark county. South Dakota. (8) 
Hattie B., born December 22, 1869, was 
married, April 22, 1891, to Mason P. Brew- 
er, who lives on his father's farm in Lyndon 
township, Whiteside county, and they have 
four children: Buell A., Carl, Harriet and 
Nellie. (9) Clara E., born March 21, 1870, 
is employed as a stenographer in Chicago. 
(10) Clark D., born April 17, 1873, is a 
gardener in Gait, Whiteside county, Illinois. 
He was married in November, 1894, to 
Alice Holcomb and has two children. Fay 
E. and Dewey. 

After his marriage Dennis Austin, of this 
review, purchased fifty acres of his father's 
farm and erected thereon a log house and 
log stable with clapboard roof. He began 
to clear away the timber and break the 
land, and continued to reside there until 
1854, when he sold his place and came to 
Whiteside county, Illinois. His first pur- 



chase here consisted of one hundred and 
sixty acres of wild land, and he again went 
through the arduous task of converting an 
unimproved tract into a well cultivated 
farm. In his new home he met with excel- 
lent success and added to his farm a tract 
of sixty acres, which he converted into one 
of the best places of its size in Lyndon 
township. He gave considerable attention 
to stock raising, making a specialty of horses 
and cattle, and he bought young stock to 
fatten for the market. In 1889 he met 
with a heavy loss, his house and its con- 
tents, valued at three thousand dollars, be- 
ing completely destroyed by fire. It was 
one of the finest homes in the township. 
Nothing daunted he immediately began the 
erection of another dwelling, though not so 
pretentious. In 1894 he left the farm and 
removed to Morrison, where he purchased 
a fine modern residence on East South 
street, and has since lived retired, having 
sold his farm. He well merits the suc- 
cess he has achieved in life as it has 
come to him through his own unaided ef- 
forts, industry and enterprise. 

Politically Mr. Austin has always affili- 
ated with the Republican party, but has 
taken no active part in politics, preferring 
to give his undivided attention to his farm- 
ing. However, he most efficiently served 
as school director in his district for a num- 
ber of years. Although not a member of 
any religious denomination he gives liber- 
ally toward the support of the Methodist 
Episcopal church of Morrison, of which his 
wife is an earnest member. 



JOHN HENRY COOK, now living in 
Unionville, Whiteside county, has had 
a varied experience in life. He was born 



98 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



in Devonshire, England, July 9, 1851, and 
is the son of Harry and Sophia (Tousey) 
Cook, both of whom were also natives of 
England. The subject of this sketch was 
their only child. Harry Cook held a com- 
nn'ssion in the British army as captain. He 
was a man of good business ability, and a 
worthy soldier of his countrj'. His death 
occurred in London, Canada, when our sub- 
ject was but about two years old. Later 
his wife married Hugh Birney, a native of 
Ireland, and they became the parents of one 
son and one daughter. The son, William, 
is now residing in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, 
while the daughter, who married a Mr. Lee 
and is living in Jersey City, New Jersey. 
The mother made three trips across the At- 
lantic. In 1 869 she made a visit to her son, 
the subject of this sketch, who was then 
living in Fulton, Illinois, and remained with 
him about eighteen months. She then re- 
turned to England, but later came back to 
the United States and died in New York in 
1882. 

The subject of this sketch was but two 
years of age when he was first brought by 
his mother to this country. He remained 
here until he was five years old, when he 
was sent back to his native country, where 
he remained but a very short time, and was 
then returned to the United States. When 
eight years old he was again sent back to 
England, and there remained until he was 
eleven years old, when he was again brought 
back to this country. Soon after their ar- 
rival his mother left him in charge of his 
step-father and returned to England. He 
did not remain with him very long, but came 
west to Fulton, Illinois. When he arrived 
he was bound out to John Skinner, but not 
being treated very well by his master he left 
him, and going to Carroll county he worked 



one season for a farmer there, and then re- 
turned to the eastern part of \\'hiteside 
county and worked as a farm hand one year 
for twenty dollars per month. When sev- 
enteen years old he went into Ustick town- 
ship, where he worked as a farm hand until 
he was of legal age, during which time he 
attended school during the winter months. 
After leaving school he still continued to 
work as a farm hand on the farm of Mr. 
Farwell until 1879, when he went to Boul- 
der V'alley, Montana, where he worked in a 
placer mine for one month, and from there 
went to Wicks, a new mining camp, where 
he worked for the Alta Mining Company, of 
Montana, a few days as a common laborer 
at three dollars and fifty cents per day. He 
was then given the position of foreman at 
four dollars per day. He remained with that 
company about two years, and in his mining 
operations was quite successful. 

Returning to Whiteside county, on the 
loth of October, 1882, he was united in 
marriage with Miss Maggie Durward, daugh- 
ter of Peter T. Durward, whose sketch ap- 
pears on another page of this work. She 
was born in Fulton, Illinois, April 9, 1855. 
By this union four children were born: 
Harry Artie, born August 23, 1885, in Ustick 
township; Lyle Fay, November 20, 1888, in 
Butte, Montana; Gracie May, October 28, 
1892, in Unionville, Illinois, and Durward 
Peter, March 14, 1896, also in Unionville. 

After his marriage, Mr. Cook went into 
the creamery business with his brother-in- 
law, William Durward, their plant being 
known as the Spring Valley Creamery. He 
remained in this business for two years and 
then disposed of his interest, and while his 
wife went to the home of her parents, he 
again went to the mines in Wicks, Montana, 
and resumed his old position with the min- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



99 



ing company, with whom he remained some 
eighteen months. Returning home, he re- 
mained about six months, and then removed 
with his family to Butte, Montana, where 
he secured employment in the office of a 
silver, pyrite and copper company, at a 
salary of one hundred dollars per month. 
For three years he remained with the com- 
pany, but on account of the ill health of his 
wife he w^as compelled to resign. She pre- 
ceded him home a few months, but in De- 
cember, 1890, he also returned. 

In 1872, Mr. Cook erected on the old 
home farm of his wife's father, a modern 
farm house at a cost of three thousand dol- 
lars, which has since been their houie. The 
discovery of gold in the Klondike tempted 
Mr. Cook to once more try his fortune in a 
mining country, and on the 30th of March, 
1898, in company with his brother-in-law, 
A. S. Durward, lie started for that country. 
Arriving in Seattle, Washington, April 5, 
he remained there one day, then took the 
steamer Queen and landed at Skaguay, 
Alaska, on the loth, being four days on the 
water. At this place they purchased their 
outfit, consisting of about three and a half 
tons of provisions, which was carried for 
them on pack horses to the Summit, at a 
cost of five cents per pound. There it was 
seized for duty by the Canadian authorities, 
and they were required to pay sixty-nine 
dollars and fifty cents duty, their receipt 
for the same reading as follows: "Cook & 
Durward paid their duty." This was not 
signed, and whether "the powers that be " 
received any part of the sum paid, of course 
is not known by Mr. Cook. Sufficient to 
say that they were permitted to proceed on 
their journey. 

From the Summit they were taken by 
sleds which carried three hundred pounds 



each, to Lake Bennett. Here they con- 
structed a boat, having to pay ten dollars 
logger's license to enable them to get the 
timber from the woods. The boat was 
twenty-six feet long and eight feet wide. 
After waiting until the ice was out they con- 
tinued their journey through Lake Bennett, 
Mud Lake, and Thirty Mile river, and while 
on the latter stream they came near losing 
their boat. They then got into Marsh Lake, 
and from that into Forty Mile river, through 
two canons and White Horse rapids into 
Lake Leborg;o and Five Finger rapids. It 
may be remarked here that all the rapids 
except White Horse rapids, are very danger- 
ous, and several lives have been lost on 
them. From the Five I'~inger rapids they 
went into Stewart river, and there remained 
one day, going on to Sixty Mile creek, and 
thence to Dawson, where they landed. 
They prospected in all the streams on the 
route from Skaguay to Dawson, finding 
gold in every stream and creek, but not in 
paying quantities. 

On their arrival in Dawson they found 
carpenters in great demand, wages being 
one dollar and fifty cents per hour. Not 
having the tools with which to work, they 
did not remainin that city, but went 
to Forty Mile Creek. The mines not being 
opened there they went down the Yukon 
river to Circle City where they remaine ! 
three days. They were there offered ten 
dollars per day to work in the placer mines, 
but as the mines were sixty miles from the 
place they did not accept the offer. From 
Circle City they went to Fort Yukon, a dis- 
tance of seventy miles, where they re- 
mained six days. Fort Yukon is three 
miles inside the Arctic circle. From Fort 
Yukon they went to Rampart City, near 
which place are the Little Minook and Big 



loo 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Minook creeks, where the best gold fields 
are found. 

From Ramport City they went back to 
Beaver Island, one hundred and seventy 
miles northeast, where they located, and on 
government land began chopping cord wood 
for the steamers plying on the river, receiv- 
ing from ten to fifteen dollars per cord. 
They continued to be thus engaged during 
the time they remained there. Mr. Dur- 
ward was taken sick with typhoid pneumon- 
ia, and when sufficiently recovered, on the 
28th of September, 1898, left for his home 
in Whiteside county. After he left Mr. 
Cook built a cabin of logs, twelve by four- 
teen feet, making it as comfortable as pos- 
sible. He continued working until some 
time in December, when he was taken sick 
with the scurvy, his illness continuing for 
nine weeks. During that time he received 
a letter from his wife which was written 
September 2, 1S98, and received by him 
January 5, 1899. This was as good as 
medicine to him, but it was the only letter 
received by him during his entire absence. 
Numerous letters were written, but none re- 
ceived by him, while his partner received 
his letters regularly, the mail being brought 
by carriers, who passed his cabin twice a 
month. Many coming and going found a 
welcome at his cal)in during his residence 
there. 

After recovering from his illness, Mr. 
Cook resnmed work, and continued to en- 
gage in it until June i, 1899. On the 5th 
of June, he started to Ramport City, a dis- 
tance of one hundred and seventy miles, 
where he thought surely he would find mail 
for him at the postoffice at that place. He 
made the trip in two days, but was greatly 
disappointed and discouraged in finding no 
letters awaiting him. Taking a steamer 



back to his camp he sold all of his wood, 
and on the 20th of June started for home 
on a steamer going to St. Michael. He 
then took passage on board a whaler, a sail- 
ing vessel, for Seattle, where he landed 
September 2, 1899, being on the ''water 
forty-two days. He chose the sailing ves- 
sel because of the fact that the price of the 
steamer passage to Seattle was three hun- 
dred dollars, while he secured passage on 
the whaler for thirty dollars. The voyage 
was not a very pleasant one, the sea being 
very rough, and the vessel was dismantled. 

Arriving at Seattle, Mr. Cook purchased 
a change of clothing, cleaned up, and after 
depositing his gold dust in the assay office, 
on Sunday at 10 o'clock, he left for home, 
where he arrived September 8, 1899. While 
in the gold region he experienced some 
cold weather, the thermometer registering 
as low as seventy-si.\ and a half degrees, 
while the ground was frozen at all times. 
However, he never suffered from the cold, 
but still he is glad to be once more with his 
family and where he can enjoy the com- 
forts of civilized life. 

In politics, Mr. Cook is a Republican, 
and while he has been repeatedly offered 
official position he has invariably declined 
all such honors. Mrs. Cook is a member 
of the Presbyterian church, while he is a 
supporter of the same. 



PETER T. DURWARD. To" a stu- 
dent of biography there is nothing 
more interesting than to examine the life 
history of a self-made man and to detect 
the elements of character which have en- 
abled him to pass on the highway of life 
many of the companions of his youth who 
at the outset of their careers were more ad- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



lOI 



vantageoiisly equipped or endowed. The 
subject of this review has, through his own 
exertions, gained a comfortable competence 
and is now enabled to laj' aside all business 
cares and speml his declining years in ease 
and comfort rit his pleasant home in Mor- 
rison. 

Mr. Durward was born in ISu.xburn, Scot- 
land, January 18, iSj-, a son of Andrew 
and Nfar}' (Taylor) Durward. The father 
was also born in lUi.xburn, April 7, 1798, 
and was a son of Robert and Janey (Malt- 
man) Durward, natives of I'erthshire, Scot- 
lanil, who were married in 1794. They 
were farming people and reared a family of 
four children, namely: Nellie, who married 
William Keith and remained in Scotland; 
Archibald and Robert, who also remained 
in that country and died while serving in 
the army; and Andrew, the father of our 
subject. He married Mary Talor, a native 
of Banfshire, Scotland, and in that country 
they spent their entire lives. To them 
were born si.\ children, three sons and three 
daughters, of whom our subject is the oldest. 
Ale.xander was a member of the Scotch 
Guards in the Crimean war, and is now 
living in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. His wife 
died, leaving him one son, Ale.xander, Jr. 
Mary wedded Hugh McKay, and died in 
18S7, leaving a family. Anna died at the 
age of eighteen years. Martha died when 
about twelve years of age. William, now a 
resident of Gladstone Terrace, Scotland, is 
married and has si.x children, three sons and 
three daughters. He was also a soldier of the 
Crimean war, and was one of the Gordon 
Highlanders who was with Gordon when 
that gentleman was killed near the Nile, in 
Egypt. 

Peter T. Durward was educated in the 
parish schools of his native land and re- 



mained at home until seventeen years of 
age. He then served a five-years' appren- 
ticeship to the blacksmith's trade, and at 
the end of that time opened a shop of his 
own, where he carried on trade for about a 
year. Subsequently he engaged in the 
manufacture of quarry tools, with good suc- 
cess, and continued in that .business until 
his emigration to the United States. 

Before leaving Scotland, Mr. Durward 
was married, in 1852, to Miss Jane Ritchie, 
who was also b jrn in Buxburn, May 27, 
1827, a daughter of George and Margaret 
(Reed) Ritchie, natives of the same place, 
where the father was engaged in quarrying 
stone for building purposes. To our sub- 
ject and his wife eight children were born, 
of whom one died in infancy. The others 
are as follow-;: (i) Margery Murray was 
born in Scotland and was ten months old 
when brought by her parents to America. 
She i$ now the wife of Simon D. Long, of 
Ustick, and they have four children: 
George, Simon, Annie and Jane. (2) Mar- 
garet J. is the wife of John H. Cook, of 
Unionvillc, whose sketch appears on an- 
other page of this volume, and they have 
four children: Arlie, Lyle, Gracie and Dur- 
ward. (3) Mary E. is the wife of W. Hen- 
dricks, who lives on her father's farm, and 
they have two children, Edna and Ralph. 
(4) Virginia is the wife of Samuel Murphy, 
a farmer of Ustick township, and thej' have 
four children: Pearl, Leafy, Lavena and 
Robert R. (5) William \\'. has never mar- 
ried, and is now engaged in the creamery 
business in Black Hawk, Wisconsin. (6) 
Andrew S , a resident of Uuionville, married 
Elizabeth Edlund and has three children: 
Winnie, Clifford and Lloyd S. (7) George 
D. lives with his parents in Morrison. 

In 1854, with his wife and child, Mr. 



102 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Durward sailed for the new world, landing 
in Quebec, Canada, whence he came direct 
to Whiteside county, Illinois. At that time 
the car line ended at Freeport and he made 
the remainder of the journey with an ox 
team. He located in Fulton, where he suc- 
cessfully engaged in the blacksmith business 
for about two and a half years. He then 
purchased a small farm near Thomson, Car- 
roll county, but never having a deed to it, 
he lost the place. Returning to Whiteside 
county, he purchased property in Ustick 
township, on which he erected a small 
blacksmith shop, and conducted the same 
for a few years. He bought forty acres of 
land in Ustick township, to which he added 
from time to time as his financial resources 
increased, buying tracts of forty-si.\ and 
seventy-six acres, a part of which was raw 
prairie land. On that farm he located in 
1857, and for several years successfully en- 
gaged in general farming and stock raising, 
making a specialty of hogs, which at times 
he sold as high as eleven dollars per hun- 
dred pounds. On leaving the farm in 1S86 
he removed to Morrison, where he erected 
a comfortable, modern residence. Here he 
opened a hardware store and engaged in 
that trade with marked success for five years. 
In political sentiment Mr. Durward is a 
stanch Republican and while a resident of 
Ustick township, he most acceptably filled 
the offices of township treasurer eleven 
years, road commissioner sixteen years, 
constable, collector and school director for 
a number of years. He has always taken 
an active and commendable interest in pub- 
lic affairs and does all in his power to ad- 
vance the interests of his town and county. 
Socially, he is a Master Mason and religious- 
ly both he and his wife are active and prom- 
inent members of the Presbyterian church 



of Ustick. He gave liberally toward the 
erection of the house of worship at that 
place and served as one of its trustees for 
some time. In 1891 both Mr. and Mrs. 
Durward returned to Scotland, where they 
spent six enjoyable months in visiting old 
friends, familiar scenes of their early life, 
and other points of interest. He possesses 
many of the admirable characteristics of the 
Scotch race, and is a genial, jovial gentle- 
man who makes many friends. 



EDWARD SCOTCHBROOK, a retired 
farmer of Unionville, Whiteside coun- 
ty, Illinois, has demonstrated the true mean- 
ing of the word success as the full accom- 
plishment of an honorable purpose. Energy, 
close application, perseverance and good 
management — these are the elements that 
have entered into his business career and 
crowned his efforts with prosperity. 

A native of England, Mr. Scotchbrook 
was born in Lincolnshire, December 8, 
1827, and is a son of John and Char- 
lotte (Taylor) Scotchbrook, also natives 
of that country where they continued to 
make their home until after the birth of all 
their children. The father was born April 
4, 1793, the mother December 9, 1795. 
In 1853 they came to America, and took up 
their residence in Fenton township, White- 
side county, Illinois, purchasing a farm of a 
few acres, on which they made their home. 
The father died in July, 1872, and the 
mother passed away in May, 1882, in her 
eighty-sixth year, both being laid to rest in 
the Ljndon cemetery. They had three chil- 
dren: Mary Ann, who wedded William 
Forth, and died in Fenton township, in 
1895, leaving one son, John; Edward, our 
subject; and Elizabeth, who died in England 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



103 



at the age of eighteen years before the 
emigration of the family to America. 

Our subject was reared in his native 
land, and as he commenced working at an 
early age, his education was obtained at 
night schools. He continued to make his 
home with his parents until twenty-four 
years of age, when he crossed the Atlantic 
and first located in Tompkins county, New 
York, where he worked as a farm hand for 
over a year. In 1852 he came to Lyndon, 
Whiteside county, Illinois, where he was 
similarly employed for the following four 
years. Having saved some money he was 
able to purchase a farm of one hundred acres 
of partly improved land, paying two thou- 
sand dollars for the same with the crop then 
growing. Subsequently he traded that 
place for eighty acres and si.x hundred dol- 
lars additional, .^fter improving that farm, 
he sold it in 1S64 for twenty-five hundred 
dollars, and purchased one hundred and 
twenty acres of partially improved land in 
Lyndon township, for which he paid thirty- 
si.x hundreil dollars. He operated that 
farm for seven j'ears and then sold it 
for seventy dollars per acre. His next 
purchase consisted of one hundred and 
twenty acres of land in Fenton township, 
which he sold about four years ago at a good 
profit. He afterward bought two hundred 
and ninety-three acres in Mount Pleasant 
township, at fortj' dollars per acre, which 
valuable farm he still owns. At one time 
he owned another one-hundred-and-twcnly- 
acre tract, which he sold to his son, who is 
now living thereon. For many j'ears he 
engaged in general farming and stock rais- 
ing with marked success, but since 1890 has 
lived retired in Unionville, where he owns a 
pleasant home and is surrrounded by all of 
the comforts of life. 



On the 27th of March, 1854, Mr. Scotch- 
brook was united in tnarriage with Miss 
Mary A. Pope, also a native of Lincolnshire, 
England, born December 25, 1830. In 
1853 she came to the new world with her 
parents, Abraham and Sarah (Crampton) 
t'ope, who located first in Lyndon township 
Whiteside county, Illinois, but in 1874 re- 
moved to \'ancouver's Island British Colum- 
bia, where both died. Their children were 
Mary A., Betsey. Thomas, Sarah, Louisa, 
Eliza, Emma and Aaron. Mrs. Scotch- 
brook died on the home farm in November, 
18S9. By that union our subject had five 
children namely: (i) Mary E. is a resident 
of Tampico, Illinois. (2) George P., a grain 
dealer of Wessington, South Dakota, mar- 
ried Nettie Borden and has two children, 
Carl E. and Frances W. (3) Willard A., 
editor of a newspaper at Stockton, Illinois, 
married Lillie Myers, of Morrison, and they 
have five children: Ruby, Ray, Bessie, 
Nettie and Cecil. (4) John T. , who lives on 
his father's farm, married Edith Upton, who 
died leaving four children: Beulah, Ivy, 
Mary and Edith. (5) Sadie E. is the wife of 
Frank Davis, who is engaged in the imple- 
ment business in Tampico, and is also a 
land owner, and they have three children: 

Mr. Scotchbrook was again married, in 
1891, his second union being with Miss 
Charlotte Westmoreland, who was born in 
Lincolnshire, England, January 2, 1865, 
and is a daughter of Moses and Maria West- 
moreland, also natives of that countrj', 
where the father died Aj)ril 16, 1881. The 
mother is still living and now makes her 
home in Hull, England. She has three 
children: Charlotte, wife of our subject; 
Samuel; and Jennie, wife of John Stock, of 
Hull, England, by whom she has two chil- 
dren, Samuel and Horace. By his second 



I04 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



marriage Mr. Scotchbrook has three chil- 
dren, namely: Jennie, born July i6, 1S92; 
Charlotte, born September 11, 1894, and 
Samuel, born September 6, 1897. 

Politically Mr. Scotchbrook is independ- 
ent, and supparts the men whom he deems 
best (juited to fill the offices. He served as 
school director in his district for a number 
of years, and has always taken an active in- 
terest in any enterprise which he believed 
calculated to advance the moral, intellectual 
or material welfare oi his adopted county. 
He merits and receives the respect and con- 
fidence of his fellow citizens and by all who 
know him he is held in high regard. 



WILLIAM MARTIN PATRICK, a re- 
tired newspaper man, of Lyndon, 
was born in Putnam county, Indiana, May 
20, 1832, a son of Enoch and Polly (Mar- 
tin) Patrick, who were married in Bethel, 
Kentucky, about 1820. The father was 
born in Bath county, that state, in 1792, the 
mother in Virginia, in 1802. He followed 
farming until 1840, when he sold his farm 
as ill health prevented him from continuing 
to follow the life of an agriculturist, and he 
then operated a hotel in Kno.wille, Illinois, 
which he conducted until his death in De- 
cember, 1864. His wife died in the same 
place in Januar)', 1S72. . To them were 
born ten children, namely: (1) Aletha mar- 
ried Willis Nelson, of Indiana, and has 
eight children, one of whom is living, 
Enoch, who has made his home with our 
subject for some time. (2) Jeremiah, who 
was a soldier of the Civil war and was 
killed in the battle of Chickamauga, mar- 
ried Jane Co.x and had five children, two 
now living: Enoch, of Minnesota, and Mrs. 
Lizzie Bi.xly, of Altoona, Illinois. (3) 



Caroline married Hiram T. Moray, a prom- 
inent lawyer who studied with Stephen A. 
Douglas, and they had four children, three 
living: Anna, of Monmouth, Illinois; Car- 
rie, wife of Jasper Baker; and Hiram, a 
dry goods merchant of Galesburg. (4) Nan- 
cy married James Olmstead, an inventor 
living at Kno.wille, where she died. Only 
one of her three children is now living, Mrs. 
Hattie O. Aldrich. (5) Mary A. first mar- 
ried a Mr. Morey, by whom she had one 
child, Martha, now deceased; and for her 
second husband she married John Combs, 
by whom she had a son, Frank. She died 
in Maquon, Illinois. (6) Rachel married 
David Collins, a farmer of Stark county, 
Illinois, and they had three children, two 
now living, George and Jennie. (7) ^^'ill- 
iam M., our subject, is the ne.xt of the 
family. (8) Elizabeth is the wife of Fitch 
Evans, of California, and they have four 
children. (9) Dorcas, who for a time was 
a teacher in the Abingdon Seminary, a 
Methodist school, married Rev. Frank 
Chaffee, a prominent worker in the Meth- 
odist Episcopal church, living at Emporia, 
Kansas, and they have two sons, Frank 
and Herbert. She died in Redlands, Cali- 
fornia, No\'ember 12, 1899. (10) Rebecca, 
also a teacher in the Abingdon Seminar}', 
married Stuart Wells, an engineer of Joliet. 
She died in McDonough county, leaving 
one daughter, Ella. 

William M. Patrick was educated in the 
common schools of Kno.wille and lived at 
home with his parents until of age, in the 
meantime having learned the printer's trade 
in the office of the Knoxville Journal, of 
which he finally became foreman, at the 
same time doing all the private work of an 
editor. For eight years he was connected 
with that paper, and then, in 1857, formed 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



105 



a partnership with J. H. Howe, as proprie- 
tors of tiic Kewanee Dial. He soon sold 
out his interest in that paper, but continued 
in the printing business until he entered the 
army during the war of the Rebellion. On 
the 4th of July, 1861, he enlisted in Com- 
pany B, Thirty-seventh Illinois Volunteer 
Infantry, with which he served two jears. 
He was then transferred to the Si.xteenth 
Corps, DWfricpie, -and served as adjutant 
one year. Upon the consolidation of this reg- 
iment with the Ninety-seventh Engineer 
Corps, he refused to be transferred as 
adjutant and was mustered out in Novem- 
ber, 1864, and returned home. The fol- 
lowing March, however, he re-enlisted in 
Company B, Fourth Regiment, United 
States Veteran Corps, with which he 
served for one jear as first sergeant. He 
participated in several important battles 
and numerous skirmishes, including the en- 
gagements at Pea Ridge. Prairie Grove and 
Vicksburg. 

After the war Mr. Patrick again em- 
barked in the newspaper business, starting 
the Orford Eeader at Montour, Tama 
county, Iowa, which he successfully con- 
ducted until after the (jraiit-Colfax cam- 
paign of 1868. In 1870 he removed to 
Center Point, Iowa, where he conducted a 
paper for a short time, and then returned 
to Illinois, locating in Mendota, where he 
established a paper that he carried on for a 
year. After living in Mendota for twelve 
years he moved his presses and paper to 
Lyndon, in 1883, and published the Advo- 
cate at that place for two years. At the 
end of that time he moved his office to 
Erie, having purchased the Erie Independ- 
ent, and consolidated the two papers. He 
continued his connection with the same 
until 1889, but two years previous gave his 



daughter an interest in the business, and 
her husl>and has since had charge of the 
paper, while our subject practically lives 
retired in Lyndon. He has alwaj's been a 
stanch Republican in politics and a power- 
ful advocate of good government. 

On the 5th of September, 1870, Mr. 
Patrick married Miss Louise Ma.xwell, a 
daughter of Ambrose and Artimesia (Hulse) 
Maxwell, and a granddaughter of Christo- 
pher C. Maxwell, of Scottish descent, being 
the son of the founder of the family in Amer- 
ica. Her ancestors lived in the lowlands of 
Scotland for many generations and among 
their number were many seafaring men, 
but more dominies and doctors. In late 
years some of the llopesand Maxwells have 
formed matrimonial alliances with the de- 
scendants of Sir Walter Scott. At the age 
of twenty Miss Maxwell commenced teach- 
ing school. She taught in Whiteside district 
schools, principal of ward schools at Polo, 
Ogle county, and at Hanover, Jo Daviess 
county, afterward in Tama City, Iowa, four 
years as principal of schools. She taught in 
Afendota and vicinity eleven years, teaching 
from 1.S60 to 1885, twenty-live years in all- 
She still maintains an active interest in edu- 
cational affairs and literary pursuits, and for 
four years has been leader of the reading 
circle formed in Lyndon, in 1 S90, for the study 
of poets and history. It was organized by 
Miss E. H. Gould, Mrs. Kate Radford, Mrs. 
L. M. Patrick, and ^^lss Helen Daggett, 
now Mrs. Greenlee, and is now in a flourish- 
ing condition. Mrs. Patrick was also leader 
of the International Historical Society dur- 
ing its existence of one year. While in 
Tama City and Mendota, she taught drawing, 
music, etc., in connection ^with the regular 
school studies, her time being fully taken up 
from morning until night. Mr. and Mrs. Pat- 



io6 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



rick have an adopted daufjhter, Mary, wife of 
C. D. Hannon, editor and proprietor of the 
Erie Independent. At the early age of fif- 
teen years she won a piano for the best se- 
lected story for the Valentine number of 
Tit-Bits, a humorous paper, out of two thou- 
sand, two hundred and forty contestants. 
She still has the instrument in her home at 
Erie. Mr. and Mrs. Hannon have two chil- 
dren, Robert and Enid. 



CHARLES BENT, the subject of this 
sketch, was born in Chicago, Illinois, 
Dec2mb3r 8, 1S44, ^^ the family residence, 
No. 185 Michigan avenue, upon which lot, 
with others, the Leland Hotel is nowsituated. 
At the time of his birth Chicago contained a 
population of less than nine thousand peo- 
ple, and during the year in which he was 
born the first public school building in the 
city was erected. In his childhood days 
the shore of Lake Michigan, which fronted 
his home, was not obstructed by railroads 
or breakwater, but its water laved the sandy 
beach as in the days of the early discover- 
ies. Before the construction of water 
works, he remembers seeing large two- 
wheeled carts, surmounted by a large hogs- 
head, backed into the lake to be filled, and 
then driven to residences, to fill the home 
barrel for a stipulated price. The city's 
boundaries were not so extensive then as 
now. Quite a resort until into the 'fifties 
was known as the " Bull's Head, " which 
was the sign of a tavern located at what is 
now the intersection of Madison and Hal- 
stead streets. Adjoining this locality was 
the country where picnics and celebrations 
were held. 

In his native city young Bent attended 
school until eleven years of age, when the 



family moved to Morrison, Illinois. Here 
he first attended school in what was known 
as Jacob, town for one winter, and then 
in the school house one mile east of 
the present city of Morrison. His school 
life ended with 1857, and in June, 
1858, he entered the office of the White- 
side Sentinel and served a three years' ap- 
prenticeship, receiving for the first year 
thirty dollars, for the second year, fifty dol- 
lars, and for the third year one hundred 
dollars. The paper was not quite one year 
old when he entered the office, and with it 
he has virtually been connected ever since. 
After finishing his apprenticeship he worked 
in the office as a journeyman until in April, 
1864, when he enlisted as a private in Com- 
pany B, One Hundred and Fortieth Illinois 
"Volunteer Infantry, and was appointed third 
sergeant of his company. The regiment 
went into the camp at Di.xon, Illinois, from 
where it was sent to Camp Butler, near 
Springfield, where it was mustered into serv- 
ice. It enlisted under the call for one hun- 
dred days, and was sent to Lafayette, Ten- 
nessee, to hold the outposts while the vet- 
erans pushed ahead. It remained in that 
vicinity until about the time of the e.xpira- 
tion of the term of service, when it was or- 
dered to Chicago to be mustered out. 
"While (7/ route, General Price gave the citi- 
zens of St. Louis a scare, the people fear- 
ing an attack, and so the regiment was or- 
dered there, where it remained a number of 
weeks doing guard duty until all danger of 
attack from Price was over. It was then 
sent to Chicago and duly mustered out. 

Returning to his home in Morrison, Mr. 
Bent again entered the office of the Sen- 
tinel, in the capacity of foreman, and there 
remained until February 2, 1865, when he 
again enlisted in the army as a private in 




CHARLES BENT. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



109 



Company B, One Hundred and Forty- 
seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, under 
the call fur one year. The regiment was 
mustered in at Camp Fry, Chicago, and 
was sent south, being attached to the 
First Brigade, Second Division, Army of the 
Cumberland. It was first stationed at Dal- 
ton, Georgia, and as General Sherman 
had cut loose and commenced his march to 
the sea, it had considerable guerrilla fight- 
ing to do. Mr. Bent, on the organization 
of the company, was appointed first ser- 
geant and was later commissioned second 
lieutenant of the company. His brigade 
received the surrender of the rebel army of 
northern Georgia, and later his regiment 
was at Albany, Georgia, and a part of the 
brigade were among the first troops at 
Andersonville after the surrender. 

Immediately after the surrender of the 
southern army, the cities of the south were 
so overrun with negroes that the troops had 
to be detached to keep them on plantations. 
Lieutenant Bent was detailed with a num- 
ber of men to go to Newton, Georgia, as 
assistant provost marshal and agent of the 
Freedmen's Bureau, his duties being to pro- 
tect citi^ieus in their homes, and as agent of 
the Freedmen's Bureau to go through the 
country and make contracts between former 
slaves and their old masters, and to require 
them to work. After being there a short 
time he was appointed assistant provost 
marshal of his brigade and stationed at 
Americus. Going to Hawkinsville, Geor- 
gia, he was later detailed to go to the region 
where Jefferson Davis was captured, and 
his headquarters were in the saw mill where 
Davis spent his last night before capture. 
After that he went to Savannah, Georgia, 
and there received orders for the faithful ex- 
ecution of which mention is made in the 



History of the One Hundred and Forty-sev- 
enth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, published in 
the adjutant-general's state reports, as 
follows: "December 6, 1865, Lieutenant 
Charles Bent and twenty men of Companj' B 
were sent to Fort Pulaski, as a garrison, 
Lieutenant Bent being responsible for the 
government propert}-, amounting to several 
million dollars, and which he satisfactorily 
turned over to his successor when relieved." 

With his regiment, Lieutenant Bent was 
mustered out of -service January 20, 1866, 
and was paid off at Camp Butler, Spring- 
field, Illinois. He at once returned home, 
and once more resumed his position in the 
office of the Whiteside Sentinel, serving as 
foreman until in July, 1867, when, in com- 
pany with his brother-in-law, Maurice Sav- 
age, he purchased the Sentinel office from 
its original proprietor, Alfred McFadden. 
The partnership between Bent & Savage 
continued until May, 1870, when Mr. Bent 
purchased his partner's interest and pub- 
lished the paper alone until February, 1877, 
when he sold the office, and at once com- 
menced collecting the material for a history 
of Whiteside county, which is considered 
authority in matters pertaining to the cf)un- 
ty's history, and which enters into detail 
concerning the early development of the 
county, as well as its growth and progress. 
The history was published in 1878. 

In March, 1879, Mr. Bent re-purchased 
the Sentinel office and has since been sole 
proprietor and editor of the paper, which 
is one of the oldest county papers in the 
state. A well equipped job office is con- 
nected with the paper, and is supplied 
with modern material and type. The paper 
is Republican in politics, and neither paper 
or editor has ever bolted the party ticket. 
In 1887, Mr. Bent erected the office build- 



I lO 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ing, which is used exclusively for the busi- 
ness, and which has all the modern im- 
provements. 

On the 15th of August, 1870, Mr. Bent 
was united in marriage with Miss Decima 
Manington, who was born in West Vienna 
township, Oneida county, New York, July 
9, 1844, daughter of Alfred and Sophia 
Manington, natives of England. By this 
union are the following named children: 
Paul Alphonso, born May 28, 1871, who is 
foreman in his father's printing office, mar- 
ried June 25, 1895, at Morrison, Illinois, to 
Miss Luna Ouackenbush; Elizabeth, born 
July 26, 1S73, married October 15, 1896, 
Robert C. Sattley, and they now reside in 
W'heaton, Illinois; Charles, born August 2, 
1875, married November 3, 1898, Miss 
Mabel Beuzeville, and they reside in Mor- 
rison, where he is local editor of his father's 
newspaper; Ruth, born October 26, 1877; 
Harry, born March 13, 1S79, and served 
during the Spanish-American war in Com- 
pany I, Si.xth Illinois \'olunteer Infantry, 
with service in Porto Rico; George Man- 
ington, born June 6, 1890. 

In civil life, Mr. Bent has been duly 
honored by his fellowmen. He was assistant 
assessor of internal revenue in the third 
collection district from December, 1870, 
until the office of revenue assessor was abol- 
ished in 1873. He was alderman in the 
city of Morrison in 1870-72, and again in 
1875-77. He was a member of the board 
of education from 1877 to 1884, and from 
1887 to 1896. In November, 1878, he was 
elected as a Republican to the state Senate 
from the eleventh district, comprising the 
counties of Whiteside and Carroll, for the 
term of four years. In April, 1883, he was 
appointed by Governor Hamilton a member 
of the state board of canal commissioners 



for the term of two years, and was presi- 
dent of the board during that time. In 
February, 1889, he was appointed by Gov- 
ernor Fifer as a commissioner of the Illinois 
state penitentiary at Joliet, and held the 
position until January, 1893, when he re- 
signed upon the election of a Democratic 
governor. He has also served as a member 
of the state Republican committee of his 
party for several years. In whatever posi- 
tion he held, he has alwajs endeavored to 
be faithful to the trust reposed in him, and 
to conscientiously discharge every duty 
for the best interest of the people. 

F'raternally Mr. Bent is a member of 
Dunlap lodge. No. 321, F. & A. M. ; Ful- 
ton chapter, No. 108, R. A. M., and Sterl- 
ing commandery, K. T. He is also a mem- 
ber of Grove lodge, No. 257, I. O. O. I"., 
of which he is past grand, and past repre- 
sentative to the state grand lodge; of the 
Bethel Encampment, No. 150, of which he 
is past chief patriarch, and also past repre- 
sentative to the state encampment; of the 
Alpheus Clark post. No. 118, G. A. R., of 
which he is past commander, and on a num- 
ber of occasions has represented it in the 
state encampment, and his state in the na- 
tional encampment. He is also a member 
of the Illinois Commandery of Loyal Legion 
of Chicago, and of the Society of the Sons 
of the .American Rex'olntion. But it is as an 
editor that he is best known. He endeavors 
to conduct his paper on a high plane, and 
always gives aid and encouragement to 
whatever is of benefit tothecit}- and county 
which has been his home for nearly half a 
century. 

GILES GREENE. At the time of his 
death, Giles Greene was one of the 
extensive landowners of Whiteside county, 



THE lilOGKAPlIICAL RECORD. 



I I I 



and his possessions had been acquired large- 
ly through his own efforts. He had also 
won, by an honorable, upright life, an un- 
tarnished name, and the record which he 
left behind him is one well worthy of emula- 
tion. He was born March 13, 1822, in 
Cortland county, New York, a son of Ben- 
jamin T. Greene, who was born in Rhode 
Island and in early life removed to the Em- 
pire state, where he was married to Hettie 
Wilson, whose birth occurred in Philadel- 
phia, Pennsylvania, in 1786. To them 
were born live children:' Harriet, Burrcl 
and Wilson, all living in Cortland county. 
New York; one who died in infancy; and 
the subject of this review. The parents 
spent their last daj's on the old homestead 
in the Empire state, where for a long period 
the father devoted his energies to farming. 

Giles Greene spent his boyhood days 
under the parental roof and remained in 
New York until 1854, when he came to 
Illinois and purchased land. He then re- 
turned to the Empire state and in 1855 was 
married to Laura Mann, daughter of Aris- 
tarchus and Sophia (Kneeland) Mann. She 
was born December 27, 1S27, in Delaware 
count}'. New York, of which place her par- 
ents were also natives. They hud a famil\- 
of three daughters, but Lavantia died when 
about thirty years of age. Julia is the 
widow of Elliot Orton and now resides in 
Leavenworth, Kansas. She has five chil- 
dren: Laliue, Ralph, Miles, Grace, wife 
of Thomas Carney, and Robert. In 1S64 
Mr. and Mrs. Mann came to Illinois, and 
being then well advanced in years they took 
up their abode in a house belonging to Mr. 
Greene where they lived retired until called 
to the home beyond. 

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Green 
started for Illinois, and began their domestic 



life upon the farm which he had previously 
purchased. It was then a wild tract of land, 
entirely destitute of improvements, but with 
characteristic energy he began its develop- 
ment and soon transformed the raw prairie 
into rich and fertile fields. He erected 
thereon substantial buildings, and with the 
passing years added all the accessories and 
conveniencies of the model farm. As his 
financial resources increased, he made addi- 
tional purchases, becoming the owner of one 
thousand acres of rich and \aluable hind, all 
in Lyndon township. He was very success- 
ful in his business affairs, and in addition 
to general farming he was extensively en- 
gaged in raising stock for shipment. Dili- 
gence was one of his chief characteristics, 
and added to this was practical common 
sense, an element which is often lacking, 
and without which one cannot hope to suc- 
ceed. In 1898 he made a business trip to 
Sterling, and while there was taken ill, his 
death resulting a few days later, on the 3d 
of January. 

Mr. and Mrs. Green were the parents of 
six children, of whom two are now deceased, 
George H. having died in infancy, while 
Hattie died in 1898 at the age of forty years. 
Ray, the eldest living son, took up the work 
where his father left it and has since carried 
on the business, dealing extensively in stock, 
which he raises and prepares for the market. 
He was born in i860, received his education 
in the district schools, and afterward spent 
one year in Monmouth, Illinois, where he 
pursued an academic course. He also pur- 
sued an elective course in the Normal Col- 
lege of Valparaiso, Indiana, where he spent 
four winter seasons. Through the summer 
months he worked on the farm, and since 
his father's death he has had charge of the 
stock-raising interests. He makes a spec- 



I 12 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



iaityof the raising of hogs, cattle and sheep, 
which he fattens for the market, and his busi- 
ness ability has enabled him to win very grat- 
ifying financial results. His political support 
is given the Democracy, and fraternally he 
is connected with the Mystic Workers of the 
World, of Lyndon. He has spent his en- 
tire life in this county, and is both widely 
and favorably known. Mary S., the next 
member of the family, is the wife of E. H. 
Wooster. They have one son, living, — 
Miles Spencer. Benjamin T. , who married 
Leila Cady, follows farming in Lyndon town- 
ship ; Stark K., a resident of Sterling, mar- 
ried Hattie Marcy and they have one son, 
Giles M. 

In politics Mr. Green was a Democrat 
who wisely espoused the principles of his 
party, but he never sought or desired public 
office and though frequently solicited by his 
fellow townsmen to serve in positions of pub- 
lic trust, he always refused. In his business 
dealings he was ever prompt, reliable and 
entirely trustworthy, and although he gained 
a greater degree of success than came to 
many of his fellow townsmen, it was because 
he was very energetic, persevering and 
capable in managing his affairs. In his 
death the community lost one of its best 
citizens, his neighbors a faithful friend and 
his family a considerate husband and father. 



JOHN H.GREEN, This gentleman, who 
spent his early life in active business, 
and mainly in agricultural pursuits, is now 
living retired on West Grove street, Morri- 
son, Illinois. A man of great energy and 
more than ordinary business capacity, his 
success in life has been largely due to his 
own efforts and the sound judgment by 
which he has been enabled to make wise 



investments and take good advantage of his 
investments. 

Mr. Green was born in Yorkshire, Eng- 
land, June 29, 1831, a son of Jesse and 
Martha (Hanson) Green, also natives of 
Yorkshire, the former born in 18 10, the 
latter in 1809. His paternal grandparents, 
Christopher and Sarah Green, made their 
home in that country until the former was 
fifty years of age and then emigrated to 
America, settling in Racine, Wisconsin, 
where they lived for a number of years. 
The)' next located in Elizabeth, Jo Daviess 
county, Illinois, where the grandfather died 
at the age of seventy-six 3'ears. Later his 
wife li\ed with her children until she, too, 
was called away at the age of seventy-nine 
years, dying in Christian Hollow, Stephen- 
son county, Illinois. She was never ill a 
day in her life. In her family were thirteen 
children, of whom three died 3'oung, the 
others being as follows: John H. is the 
eldest; George H. , a resident of Des Moines, 
Iowa, is a widower and has one child; 
Christopher, a musician in the Union army 
during the Civil war, is living in Spencer, 
Iowa, and has two daughters; Mary is the 
wife of William Reynolds, of Lena, Illinois, 
also a veteran of the Civil war, and they 
have three children; Sarah is the wife of 
William Mahanney, of Janesville, Wiscon- 
sin, and they have four children; fane is the 
wife of Edward Body, of Iowa Falls, Iowa, 
and they have five children; James is a resi- 
dent of Sheffield, Iowa, and has five chil- 
dren; Anna M. is the wife of Robert Body, 
of Iowa Falls. .Iowa, and they have three 
children; Henry is unmarried and makes his 
home in Sheffield, Iowa; and Joseph is a 
resident of Sheffield and has one child. In 
1842, the parents of our subject, with their 
family, came to the new world and settled 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



113 



in Jo Daviess county, Illinois, near the Wis- 
consin line. Two years later they removed 
to r,lizabeth and later to Stephenson 
county, where the grandmother died. 
After four years spent there, they returned 
to Woodbine, where the father engaged in 
farming for some years. He died in Coun- 
cil Hill, Jo Daviess county, in 1887, and his 
wife passed away in 1889. 

Our subject never attc:nded school, his 
education being of a practical kind, gained 
by contact with the world. During his 
minority he remained at home, working in 
the lead mines and teaming, and giving his 
wages to his parents until twenty-one years 
of age. He worked in the mines of this 
state for about two years and a half and 
then went to California, in March, 1854, 
by water, I'iii New York. He engaged in 
gold mining for a year and a half, and then 
turned his attention to teaming, which oc- 
cupation proved quite profitable. He made 
considerable money during the six years 
spent upon the Pacific coast. At the end 
of that time he returned to Jo Daviess 
county, Illinois, where he purchased a farm 
of two hundred and eight acres, and re- 
mained there until 1869, when he sold the 
place and came to Ustick, Whiteside coun- 
ty. Here he bought one hundred and ten 
acres of land, to the improvement and culti- 
vation of which he devoted his energies until 
1894, when he removed to Morrison and 
retired from active labor. 

In December, 18G1, Mr. Green married 
Miss Margaret Lowry, who was born on 
the Isle of Man, September 17, 1844, and 
during infancy was brought to America by 
her parents, Henry and Margaret (Oullim) 
Lowry, the former a native of Lands End, 
England, the latter of the Isle of Man. 
They located in Elizabeth township, Jo 



Daviess county, Illinois, where the father 
died in 1887. The mother is' still living. 
They are as follows: (1) Fanny married 
William Ilowartli, of Jo Daviess county, 
and died in 1887, leaving twelve children 
who are still living. (2) Henry was a mem- 
ber of the Ninety-sixth Illinois Volunteer 
Infantry during the last two years of the 
Civil war, since which time he has suffered 
with lung trouble and has traveled most of 
the time for the benefit of his health. (3) 
Margaret, wife of our subject, is the next 
of the family. (4) Joseph, a resident of 
St. Joseph, Missouri, is married and has 
two sons. (5) William, a resident of Mor- 
rison, Illinois, is married and has one son. 
(6) John (lied in infancy. (7) Maria. To Mr. 
and Mrs. Green were born six children: 
John G. ; Sarah G., wife of A. N. Al>bott, 
the Republican representative of this dis- 
trict; and May, wife of ]?. F. Hoover, a 
farmer of Ustick township, are all repre- 
sented elsewhere in this volume. Phtebe 
and Benjamin are still at home. 

The Republican party finds in Mr. 
Green a stanch supporter of its principles, 
and he has most creditably filled the offices of 
road commissioner and school director. 
Other official positions have been offered 
him but he declined them. He is well known 
and highlj' respected, and during his resi- 
dence in this county has made many friends. 
His wife is an earnest member of the Pres- 
byterian church. 



JT. REYNOLDS, a worthy representa- 
tive of the agricultural interests of 
Whiteside county, Illinois, owns and suc- 
cessfully operates a good farm of one hun- 
dred and twenty acres on section 34, Mount 
Pleasant township. He is a native of Penn- 



114 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



s}ivania, his birth occurring in Tioga count}', 
November 9, 1839, and is a son of Bennett 
and Margaret (Richmond) Rej-nolds, the 
former born in \'ermont August 11, 1S07, 
the latter in Pennsylvania January 16, 1816. 
After attaining his majority the father re- 
moved to Tioga county, Pennsjlvania, where 
he continued to make his home until called 
from this life in 1890. He was a good 
mechanic, but followed farming as an oc- 
cupation. His wife died in March, 1S88. 
To them were born seven children, namely: 
Ezra, who died in Tioga county, Pennsylva- 
nia, at about the age of forty years; Orrin, 
who died at the age of twenty; J. T. , our sub- 
ject; Mary Jane, now the widow of William 
Bryant, and a resident of Tioga county; 
Draper, also a resident of that county; Sal- 
lie, who married a cousin, William Reynolds, 
and lives on the old homestead; and Daniel, 
also a resident of Tioga county, Pennsyl- 
vania. 

In the county of his nativity J. T. Rey- 
nolds grew to manhood, acquiring his edu- 
cation in its common schools. During the 
Civil war he was in the quartermaster's de- 
partment near Fredericksburg, \'irginia, for 
two winters. In the spring of 1863 he came 
west and first located in Mount Carroll, 
Carroll county, Illinois, where he remained 
about a year, and then came to Mount Pleas- 
ant township, Whiteside county. After work- 
ing by the month as a farm hand for one 
season he operated rented land for four or 
five years, and at the same time run a thresh- 
ing machine in connection with W^illiam 
Hicks for a number of years. 

On the loth of August, 1871, Mr. Rey- 
nolds was united in marriage with Mrs. Mar- 
garet Parnham, widow of Robert Parnham, 
and daughter of Nathan and Rebecca (Jew- 
ell) Nash, both natives of Ohio. Her father 



was a farmer of Licking county, that state, 
where he died when Mrs. Reynolds was but 
a small child, and she lost her mother when 
only si.\ months old. In their familj' were 
four children: Benjamin, who died in Michi- 
gan in the spring of 1899, at the age of sev- 
enty years; Stephen, a retired farmer of 
Michigan; Mary, widow of George Hughes, 
and a resident of Iowa; and Margaret, wife 
of our subject. Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds 
have one child, Mary Jane, at home. 

After his marriage our subject bought 
land on section 34, Mount Pleasant town- 
ship, to which he has since added until he 
now has a fine farm of one hundred and 
twenty acres, which he has placed under ex- 
cellent cultivation. He has purchased an 
acre and a fraction in Morrison, where he 
contemplates building a home to which he 
expects to retire shortly. He is principally 
engaged in stock raising, selling to the local 
shippers. In political sentiment he is a Re- 
publican. Socially he belongs to Lyndon 
camp, M. W. A., and religiously his wife is 
a member of the Methodist church, which 
church he also attends. 



HON. ALFRED N. ABBOTT, one of 
the most influential, prominent and 
progressive citizens of Ustick township, was 
born on his present farm on section 32, No- 
vember 2, 1862. His father, Asa M. Ab-V 
bott, was born in Harland, Vermont,' in 
1820, and was a son of Benjamin and 
Dorcas (Noyes) Abbott, both natives of 
New Hampshire, the former born in Con- 
cord, of English ancestry, the latter of Eng- 
lish extraction. The grandfather was the 
fifth in direct line in the Abbott family to 
bear the name of Benjamin. The first to 
come to the new world landed on our shores 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



115 



in 1643 and settled at Andover, beinj;; the 
first settlers of tJie place. Our subject's 
great-grandfatlier, Benjamin Abbott, was a 
Kevolutioiiary soldier and was wounded in 
the battle of B>unker Hill. Two of his 
brothers participated in the battle of Ben- 
nington, in which one of them was killed. 
In the family of the grantlfather of our sub- 
ject were the following children who reached 
years of maturity: Ephraim, a printer, who 
died in St. Louis, was the editor of the first 
agricultural paper of the Mississippi X'allev; 
Enorli traveled around the world for his 
health and died in Concord, New Hamp- 
shire, which town was founded by the Ab- 
bott family; Asa is the father of our subject ; 
Laura married Lansing Morton, of Mortons 
Corners, New York, and died at the age of 
twenty-six years, leaving one son, Charles 
A. Morton, of St. Paul, where he is super- 
intendent of freight inspection; Susan mar- 
ried Jesse Fry and died leavingtwo children: 
Benjamin, a commercial traveler, of Denver, 
Colorado, and Laura, now the wife of 
Brigadier-General William Clendenning, of 
Moline. 

During early life Asa M. Abbott worked 
at the gunsmith's trade. At the age of 
twenty-one he came west and first located 
in St. I^ouis, Missouri, but in 1847 came to 
Fulton, Whiteside county, Illinois. The 
following year he entered eighty acres of the 
old homestead now occupied by our subject, 
and to its improvement and cultivation he de- 
voted his energies with marked success for 
many years. At the time of his death he had 
four hundred and eighty acres of land in Kan- 
sas, and four hundred and fifty acres in Illinois, 
one hundred and thirty acres of which was 
timber land. At the age of twenty-six, he 
was married in Oquawka, Henderson coun- 
ty, Illinois, to Miss Sarah Sperry, who was 



born in Mecca, Ohio, in 1S22, and in 1S36 
becarne a resident of Oquawka. Of the 
seven children born to them one daughter 
died in infancy. Charles E., the eldest son 
and the present county treasurer of Juab 
county, Utah, married Sarah Sperry and 
has six living children. (2) Morton, a farm- 
er of Marshall county, Ivansas, married 
Hannah Knight, and they have six children, 
two sons and four daughters. {3) Theodore 
S., a civil engineer of SaltiUo, Mexico, who 
is considered one of the best in that country, 
married Lillia Nalle, a native of \'irgiuia, 
and has two children, a son and daughter. 
(4) Edward L., a contractor and builder of 
New Yink City, married Lillie Hartwell and 
has one daughter. (5) William I^., who 
has charge of the operating department of 
the Chicago Edison Company, married Car- 
rie Entwhistle, of Ustick, and has four chil- 
dren, two sons and two daughters. (6) 
Alfred N., our subject, completes the fami- 
ly. The father died April 8, 1889. The 
mother is still living. 

During his l)oyhood Alfred N. Abbott 
attended the district schools near his home 
but completed his education at the State 
Universit}', Champaign, which institution 
three of his brothers also attended. He 
has spent his entire life on the home farm, 
engaged in agricultural pursuits, and has 
added to it since his father's death a tract 
of one hundred and twentj' acres, making 
four hundred acres in all. He has also im- 
proved the place by the erection of good and 
substantial buildings, which add greatly to 
its value and attractive appearance. He 
raises both grain and stock and each year 
fattens a number of head of cattle and hogs 
for the market. 

On the 1 2th of October, 1886, Mr. 
Abbott was united in marriage with Miss 



ii6 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Sarah Green, who was born in Woodbine, 
Daviess county, Illinois, April 3, 1865, a 
daughter of John and Margaret Green, of 
Morrison, the former a native of England, 
the latter of the Isle of Man. Four chil- 
dren grace this union, nainel}-: BayardT., 
Frances D., Louis A. and Howard G. 

In his political affiliations Mr. Abbott is 
an ardent Republican and he has ever taken 
an active and prominent part in the public 
affairs of the county. On attaining his ma- 
jority he was elected justice of the peace, 
which office he filled for si.x years, and 
subsequently was supervisor for one term. 
He resigned the latter office in November, 
1S98, having been elected to the Legisla- 
ture from the thirty-lirst congressional dis- 
trict, and is now filling that position in a 
most creditable and satisfactory manner. 
His ambition has been to aquit himself of 
life's duties honorably before all men, to 
improve his capabilities and opportunities 
and to become of use in the world; and it is 
to this spirit mainly that he owns his ad- 
vancement. He has not only been honored 
with positions of public trust but has also 
been chosen to administer and settle sever- 
al estates for his neighbors. Socially, he is 
a Master Mason, one of the directors and 
prominent members of the Mystic Workers, 
and also belongs to Ustick Camp, M. W. 
A., No. 3995. 



ANDREW S. DURWARD, a well-known 
and prominent stock buyer of Union- 
ville, is a native of this county, born in 
Ustick township September 30, 1863, a son 
of Peter T. Durward, whose sketch appears 
on another page of this volume. He re- 
ceived a fair district school education, pur- 
suing his studies only through the winter 



months, as his services were needed on the 
home farm during the summer season. He 
assisted his father in the cultivation of the 
land until he reached the age of twenty-one, 
and then went to Iowa, where he remained 
about a year. On his return to Illinois he 
obtained the position of watchman on the 
Mississippi river steamer Silver Wave, and 
remained upon the water three years, being 
mate the last two years, as he successfully 
passed the examination and secured a 
license. 

On the 3d of February, 1887, Mr. Dur- 
ward married Miss Elizabeth Edlund, a 
daughter of Gulick and Martha (Peterson) 
Edlund, natives of Sweden. The father 
died when she was quite young, but the 
mother is still living and is now the wife of 
Jonas Edlund, a brother of her first hus- 
band. His sketch also appears elsewhere 
in this work. Our subject and his wife 
have three children, two sons and one 
daughter, namely: Winnie E., Clifford and 
Lloyd. 

After his marriage Mr. Durward engaged 
in farming upon rented land for ten years, 
but gave the greater part of his time and 
attention to the raising of cattle and hogs, 
to which he fed all of his grain. As a stock 
raiser and farmer he met with most excel- 
lent success. At the end of ten 3'ears he 
sold his implements and purchased a home 
in Unionville, and also seventy- seven acres 
of land where Ustick postoffice is now lo- 
cated, paying for the same sixtv-three dol- 
lars per acre. This is one of the best farms 
of its size in the township. 

After securing a home for his family, Mr. 
Durward thought to add to his wealth more 
quickly by going to the new gold fields in 
the Klondike region. He left home the 
last day of March, 1898, and traveled over 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



117 



the Slof^uay trail. He arrived at the pass 
April 10, and on striking the Yukon river 
built a skiff in which he floated down that 
stream for sixteen hundred miles, visiting 
ail the mining camps along its banks. He 
stopped at Beaver creek, where he was 
taken ill with typhoid fever three months 
later, and on the 25th of September, the 
same year, he started for home on the 
steamer Pilgrim. Four days were spent on 
Behring sea and twelve on the Pacific coast 
before he once more set foot in the United 
States, and five days later he reached home 
— rich in experience if not in gold. After 
regaining his health, he formed a partner- 
ship with H. D. Burch, under the firm 
name of Burch & Durward, and has since 
successfully engaged in buying and shipping 
stock to the Chicago markets. He is a 
wide-awake, energetic business man, and 
generally carries forward to successlul com- 
pletion whatever he undertakes. 

In his political views, Mr. Durward is a 
Republican, and prior to going to the Klon- 
dike he held the offices of road commis- 
sioner five years, and school director, while 
at present he is school director in Union- 
ville. Fraternally he is a member of Anchor 
lodge, No. 120, K. P., of Morrison, Ustick 
lodge. No. 9, Mystic Workers, in which he 
is holding the office of banker, and while a 
resident of Ustick he belonged to Ustick 
camp, No. 3595, M. W. A., of which he 
was vice-consul. He has also been a trustee 
and treasurer of the Presbyterian church for 
two years although he is not a member. 



CYRREL A. LUM, an enterprising agri- 
culturist of ^^'hiteside count)', is the 
owner of a fine farm on section 16, Union 

Grove township, and his management of 
7 



the place is marked by the scientific knowl- 
edge and skill which characterize the modern 
farmer. He was born in Ellisburg, Jeffer- 
son county. New York, July r, 1846, and is 
the only child of Calvin and Mary B. (Clark) 
Lum, also natives of Jefferson county. New 
York. The mother died when our subject 
was only ten months old, and the father 
departed this life August 26, 1875. His 
ancestors were originally from Massachu- 
setts. By occupation he was a farmer, and 
he owned and successfully operated one 
hundred and seventy acres of land in his 
native county. b'oT his second wife he mar- 
ried Eunice Potter of the same place, who 
died ten years after their marriage, and 
subsequently he wedded Harriet Beddinger, 
also of Jefferson county, by whom he had 
one son, Manford P., who is now clerking 
in a store in Michigan. He is married and 
has one son, Gerald. 

Our subject remained with his father 
until twenty-one years of age, and was edu- 
cated in the home schools. During the 
Civil war he enlisted in Company H, One 
Hundred and Eighty- fifth New York Volun- 
teer Infantry, and was in the service nine 
months, being honorably discharged at the 
close of the war, in June, 1865. Returning 
home he continued to work on the farm until 
his marriage, which was celebrated Decem- 
ber 25, 1867, Miss Inous A. Hoxie becoming 
his wife. She was also born in Ellisburg, 
and is a daughter of Isaac and Mary Hoxie, 
natives of New York. One child was born 
of this union, Bessie M., at home. 

In February, 1867, Mr. Lum came to 
Whiteside county, Illinois, and after suc- 
cessfully operating rented land for two years 
in Union Grove township, he purchased one 
hundred and twenty acres of partially im- 
proved land. Later he sold that place and 



ti8 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



bought eighty acres on section 21, Union 
Grove township, and twenty acres on section 
28, but subsequently sold the latter tract, 
and in 1895 purchased eighty acres of farm- 
ing land on section 9 and ten acres of tim- 
berland on section 18. In connection with 
general farming he is engaged in stock rais- 
ing, making a specialty of hogs, and feeds 
most of his grain to his stock. Through 
his own well- directed and energetic efforts, 
he has met with excellent success in busi- 
ness affairs, being a man of keen discrimina- 
tion, sound judgment and good business 
ability. Politically, he is identified with 
the Republican party, and though he has 
never aspired to office, he has been called 
upon to serve his fellow citizens as tax col- 
lector for two years, and constable for 
eighteen years. Socially, he is a Master 
Mason, a member of Morrison camp, M. W. 
A., and the Grand Army post No. 118, 
while religiously his wife and daughter are 
members of the Baptist church. 



ROBERT SNOW JAMES, who owns 
and operates a farm of seventy-two 
acres, on section 3, Mount Pleasant town- 
ship, is a native of Clyde township, and 
was born February 2, 1865. He is a son 
of Amos A. and Ann (Norrish) James, the 
former a native of Mount Pleasant town- 
ship, Whiteside county, Illinois, and the 
latter of England. She is a sister of Robert 
S. Norrish, of whom mention is made else- 
where in this work. Amos A. and Ann 
James were the parents of eight children, 
of whom Robert S. was the fourth in order 
of birth. (See sketch of Amos A. James 
on another page of this work.) 

On the old home farm in Mount Pleas- 
ant township the subject of this sketch 



spent his boyhood and youth, and as soon 
as old enough was assigned his share of 
farm labor. He attended the district 
schools of the township and received a good 
common-school education, which has been 
put tg a practical test in his business career. 
He remained at home, assisting in the cul- 
tivation of the home farm until his mar- 
riage in 1890 to Miss Rosa Thomas, who 
was born in Mount Pleasant township, and 
the daughter of A. P. Thomas, who is also 
represented in this volume. By this union 
one child has been born. Vera. 

Immediatel}' after their marriage, our 
subject and wife took up their residence on 
the family homestead of his father, which 
he operated (or several years, doing a suc- 
cessful business in general farming. In 
1897 he purchased his present farm of sev- 
enty-two acres on section 3, Mount Pleas- 
ant township, which he cultivates in addi- 
tion to one hundred and thirty acres which 
he rents. While under cultivation, the 
farm which he purchased is devoid of im- 
provements. 

In politics Mr. James is thoroughly inde- 
pendent, voting for the man rather than the 
party. While never a seeker for office, he 
has served his district as school director for 
ten years, doing all in his power to advance 
the interests cf the public schools. Fra- 
ternally he and his wife are members of the 
Mystic Workers of the World As a citizen 
he is always willing to do all in his power 
for the general good of his township and 
county. 

GEORGE R. HAMILTON. In the 
pioneer epoch in the history of this 
section of Illinois George R. Hamilton came 
to the Prairie state, and has been an im- 
portant factor in the substantial develop- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



119 



ment and permanent improvement of White- 
side county. He has seen its v\ild lands 
transformed into fine farms, while industrial 
and commercial interests have been intro- 
duced and thus towns have become thriv- 
ing cities. In the work of progress he has 
borne his part and has been particularly 
active as a representative of the agricultural 
interests of the community. He is to- 
day the owner of four hundred acres of land 
in Lyndon township, constituting a valuable 
property, which returns to him a good in- 
come. 

A native of Northampton, Massachusetts, 
Mr. Hamilton was born February 24, 1820, 
a son of Adam R. Hamilton, who was born 
in that place October 12, 1791, and was of 
Irish descent. The father was a printer by 
trade, but on account of failing health he 
turned his attention to farming. He was 
married in Massachusetts to Miss Nancy 
Miller, also a native of the Bay state and 
on leaving Massachusetts they removed to 
New York, where they were connected with 
agricultural interests until 1S35, when they 
came with their family to Illinois, the father 
purchasing land from the government. The 
sections had not been surveyed, but the 
townships had been laid out, and he at one 
time owned two hundred and forty acres, 
upon which he made his home until his 
death. For many years the farm was 
operated under his supervision, but in his 
last year he rented the land. He died in 
1865 and his wife passed away in i860. 
During the war of 1812 he served as a 
private, and at all times was loyal to his 
duties of citizenship. In his lamily were 
six children: John M., of Lyndon town- 
ship; Nancy, who married Theron Crook, 
and died in 1852; Lovisa, who married John 
Swarthout, who died in 1854, after which 



she became Mrs. Olds, her death occurring 
in 1896; George R. ; Mary G., who died in 
New York at the age of live years; Mary 
E. , wife of John Garlick, of Nebraska, by 
whom she has six children; and John, who 
died in Nebraska, in 1896; and Harriet A., 
who is living with our subject. 

George R. Hamilton, of this review, ac- 
quired his education in New York and after 
his arrival in Illinois he aided in the arduous 
task of developing a new farm from the wild 
prairie. When he had attained his major- 
ity he began working as a farm hand, being 
thus employed for two years. His industry 
and economy in that time enabled him to 
save a little money and he accordingly in- 
vested it in five acres of land, — the nucleus 
of his present extensive landed possessions. 
As the years passed he kept adding to the 
property, making judicious investments. 
When he had been gone from the home 
farm for two years he returned and assumed 
its management, renting the property until 
his father's death. From time to time he 
extended the boundaries of his own farm by 
additional purchase until he now has four 
hundred acres, much of which is under a 
high state of cultivation or devoted to past- 
urage. Near his home is a beautiful grove 
which has grown to stately trees during his 
residence here. Substantial building, the 
latest improved machinery and all the ac- 
cessories of this model farm indicate the 
thrift and enterprise of the owner, who is 
accounted one of the leading agriculturists 
of the community. 

On the 28th of May, 1868, Mr. Hamil- 
ton married Miss Hannah Belt, who was 
born in Ohio, June 9, 1835, and when 
twelve years of age came to Illinois with 
her parents, who were also natives of the 
Buckeye state. Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton be- 



120 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



came the parents of two children: Willis 
G., who died in 1891, married Nellie Harri- 
son, and they had one son, W. Vernon; 
Louie E., the daughter, is now managing 
the household affairs for her father, for the 
wife and mother was called to the home be- 
yond February 6, 1887. Mr. Hamilton is 
a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
church, and in politics is a Prohibitionist. 
He is a most active and interested worker 
in the Old Settlers' Association, which has 
held its meetings on his farm for thirty-five 
years. He was a member of its committee 
on grounds nearly all that time. The meet- 
ings are very pleasant occasions, bringing 
together the pioneer settlers who laid the 
foundation for the present prosperity of the 
county, wno came to the west when this 
was a frontier region, resided in primitive 
cabins, ofttimes built of logs, broke the wild 
lands, and endured many hardships in order 
to found homes for themselves and families 
in this great and growing section of the 
country. Through the sixty-four years of 
his residence here Mr. Hamilton has become 
widely known, and his many excellent traits 
of character have gained him the high re- 
gard of his many friends. 



JAMES WOODBURN, a prominent nurs- 
eryman and florist of Sterling, was 
born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, 
October 12, 1836, and is the only son of 
George W. and Mary (Williams) Wood- 
burn, also natives of Pennsylvania, and 
pioneers of Whiteside county, Illinois. The 
father came to this count)' in the fall of 
1837 and bought a pre-emption claim be- 
fore the land came into market, the pres- 
ent property of our subject being a part of 
this. In the spring of 183S he returned to 



Pennsylvania for his wife and child, and on 
again coming to Whiteside county, took up 
his residence upon his land, which he contin- 
ued to cultivate and improve until 1S49, 
when he made an overland trip to Cali- 
fornia. He remained upon the Pacific 
coast, engaged in mining, for about ten 
years, and then returned to his farm in this 
county, where he spent the remainder of 
his life, dying here in 1872. In politics he 
was first a Whig and later a Republican, 
and in religious belief he was a Presbyte- 
rian. His estimable wife was one of the 
charter members of the First Presbyterian 
church of Sterling. 

James H. Woodburn was given a liberal 
education. At the age of ten years he en- 
tered the preparatory department of Linn 
Academy of Indianapolis, Indiana, and at 
sixteen became a student at the Big Springs 
Academy, where he completed his educa- 
tion. He then engaged in farm labor until 
after the opening of the Civil war. On the 
2d of August, 1862, he enlisted in Company 
I, Seventy-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, 
as a private, but was soon promoted to the 
rank of corporal and later sergeant and 
lieutenant. He participated in the battles of 
Stone River, Lookout Mountain, Missionary 
Ridge and Ringgold Gap, was in the Atlanta 
campaign with Sherman, and remained in 
the service until the close of the war, being 
mustered out June 12, 1865. After the 
war he turned his attention to horticulture 
and floriculture, and now has a fine nursery 
covering twenty acres. 

Mr. Woodburn was married, November 
15, 1S58, to Miss Susan Farrar, a native of 
Manchester, New Hampshire, and a daugh- 
ter of Isaac and Hannah Farrar, and by 
this union two children were born: George 
W. , who died in April, 1890, and Charles 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



121 



H., an attorney of Sterling. They are 
members of the Methodist Episcopal church 
of Sterling, in the work of which they take 
an active and prominent part, Mr. Wood- 
burn having served as president of the 
board of trustees for twenty years. Polit- 
ically he affiliates with the Republican 
party, and fraternally he belongs to the 
Ancient Order of United Workmen, the 
Independent Order of Mutual Aid, the 
Knights of Honor, the Iuiie:hts of the Mac- 
cabees, and the Grand Army of the Re- 
public. 



CHARLES H. WOODBUKN, the popu- 
lar and efficient court stenographer of 
Whiteside county and a well-known attor- 
ney of Sterling, residing at No. 501 Fifth 
avenue, was born in that city November 5, 
1S62, and is the only child of James H. and 
Susan (Farrar^ W'oodburn, whose sketch is 
given on another page of this work. The 
early life of our subject was passed under 
the parental roof, and he attended the Ster- 
ling public schools, the Wallace high school 
and the Sterling Business College, where 
he gave special attention to stenography. 
He became quite proficient in that art, and 
was soon called upon to do court and legal 
reporting. 

In 18S8 Mr. Woodburn was made the 
first official reporter for the old Thirteenth 
judicial district, comprising seven counties, 
receiving the appointment under Judge 
John D. Crabtree. The large circuit and 
his numerous duties occupied his entire 
time until taking up his present profession. 
In his intimate and long connection with 
the court and legal affairs, he became fa- 
miliar with the profession of law. He was 
admitted to the bar in November, 1897, ^^''^ 



on account of the duties connected with his 
official position he found it impossible to 
give his attention to practice until 1899, 
when he opened an office in the Kreider, 
Harphani & Williams building, on the cor- 
ner of Third and Locust streets, where he 
has since engaged in general practice. He 
is one of the brightest professional men in 
Whiteside county, and starts out on his 
career with brilliant prospects. 

On the nth of February, 1885, Mr. 
Woodburn was united in marriage with Miss 
Mary Clatworthy, a native of England and 
a daughter of Rev. W. H. and Elizabeth 
(Croker) Clatworthy, who were also born in 
that country. In early life thj father was 
a minister of the Wesleyan Methodist 
church, but in 1878 retired from that call- 
ing and turned his attention to farming in 
Lee county, Illinois, bscoming an e.xtensive 
land owner. Mr. and Mrs. Woodburn are 
active members of the Fourth Street Meth- 
odist Episcopal church of Sterling, and he 
also belongs to the Knights of the Globe 
and the Independent Order of Mutual Aid. 
In politics he is an ardent Republican, and 
takes an active and commendable interest 
in public affairs. 



CC. McMAHON, a prominent member 
of the W'hiteside county bar, and an in- 
lluential citizen of Fulton, Illinois, was born 
June 16, 1S60, at Prince Edward Island, a 
son of Francis and Rosa (McAvoy) McMa- 
hon, both natives of northern Ireland. His 
parents were married in Prince Edward 
Island, where they continued to reside until 
1867, when they came west, and from that 
time until the death of the father, in 1895, 
made their home in or near Fulton. The 
widowed mother is now li\ing in Fulton. 



122 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



C. C. McMahon spent the early years of 
his life at home, receiving his elementary 
instruction in the public schools of Lyons 
and Fulton. He subsequently completed 
the scientific course, and took portions of 
other courses, at the Northern Illinois Col- 
lege, which he attended four years before 
entering, in 1885, its law department, from 
which he was graduated in 1888. Not 
being jet ready to commence his profes- 
sional career, Mr. McMahon, who had paid 
his college expenses by working between 
terms at boating and rafting, and had for 
seven years been mate on boats plying be- 
tween Stillwater and Rock Island. In the 
winter of 1889 and 1S90 he read law with 
J. D. Andrews, who then had offices at 
Morrison and Sterling, and has since be- 
come famous in the legal world as the au- 
thor of various important works, including 
"Commentaries on American Law," "An- 
drews' Stephen's Pleading, " and " Practice 
in the Supreme Court of Illinois," used as 
te.xt books in the leading colleges of the 
country, and of other works of recognized 
merit and authority. 

In the spring of 1890, in the Fulton 
Bank building, Mr. McMahon opened the 
office that he still occupies, and in the 
meantime has built up a lucrative practice 
in the various courts of the state. Self- 
educated and self-made in the highest sense 
implied by the term, securing a thorough 
knowledge of his profession during the in- 
tervals of the steamboating seasons, he may 
well be congratulated on the high position 
that he has already attained in the legal 
fraternity. His business transactions are 
varied and extended. He is one of the 
faculty of the law department of the North- 
ern Illinois College. 

In national politics Mr. McMahon sup- 



ported the Republican party until 1896, but 
since then has been identified with the sil- 
ver movement; in local matters he is inde- 
pendent, being pledged to neither of the old 
parties. He has warmly advocated the 
various beneficial enterprises inaugurated 
in the city, and has rendered faithful service 
in many capacities, among others having 
been township collector one year and city 
attorney continuously since 1892. He was 
largely instrumental in securing the loca- 
tion of the Mississippi Valley Stove Com- 
pany, and is now one of its directors, and 
has been actively interested in other move- 
ments calculated to improve and benefit the 
town. Fraternally Mr. McMahon is a mem- 
ber, and past chancellor, of Sunlight lodge, 
No. 23, K. P.; a member of the Modern 
Woodmen of America, and of the Mystic 
Workers of the World. 



EARL E. MARVEL, a well known con- 
tractor and builder of Prophetstown, is 
a native of Whiteside county, born in Port- 
land township, August 3, 1856, and is a son 
of John Marvel and grandson of Rev. John 
Marvel. The father was born in New York, 
in 1834, and there grew to manhood, but 
when a young man he came west and set- 
tled in this county. He was a carpenter 
and joiner by trade and followed that occu- 
pation in early life, but on coming to White- 
side county, he located in Portland town- 
ship and turned his attention to agricultural 
pursuits. He continued his residence there 
throughout his active business life, but spent 
his last days in retirement in Prophetstown. 
In this county he wedded Miss Mary Wright, 
also a native of New York, and a daughter 
of Jonathan Wright. He died July, 1895, 
and she passed away April 11, 1899. Our 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



123 



subject was the oldest of their six children, 
the others being Daniel, who is married and 
engaged in mining in Breckenridge, Colo- 
rado; Ike, a resident of Spring Hill; Hattie, 
who resides with our subject; Ella, also a 
resident of Prophetstown; and Gu)-, who 
lives on the old homestead. 

Earl E. Marvel was reared on the home 
farm and educated in the public schools of 
the neighborhood. In 1S79 he went to 
Jewell county, Kansas, where he took up a 
claim and engaged in farming for about ten 
years and then sold his place, He also 
worked at the carpenter's and joiner's trade 
to some extent. Returning to Whiteside 
county, in 1 89 1, he locati-d in Prophetstown, 
where he worked at his trade in the employ 
of others for about a year, and then began 
contracting and building on his own account. 
In this undertaking he has met with well- 
merited success, and has erected a large 
number of the be;t residences in the town, 
among them being the fine residences of Mr. 
Field and H. N. Paddock, besides many 
other of the fine residences of Prophetstown, 
while some of the business houses also show 
his architectural skill and handiwork. He 
has also erected buildings in Erie and else- 
where in the county, and for the past three 
years has been tiie leading contractor and 
builder of Prophetstown. Here he bought 
property and building for himself a pleasant 
home, which ranks among the best of all 
the modern structures of the town. 

While in Jewell county, Kansas, .Mr. 
Marvel was married, in March, 1881, to 
Miss Anna K. Trump, a native of Mar}land 
and a daughter of David Trump, of Kansas. 
Two children bless this union: Carl M. 
and Ella M. Politically, Mr. Marvel has 
been a life-long Democrat and cast his first 
presidential vote for Grover Cleveland. He 



joined the Masonic order at Spring Hill, but 
is now dimitted. As a business man he 
stands deservedly high in the esteem of his 
fellows citizens, and is widely and favorably 
known. 



SOLOMON HUBBARD, one of the 
venerable and highly respected citizens 
of Sterling, is a worthy son of a representa- 
tive old family of Connecticut, of Scotch 
extraction. His father, Josiah Hubbard, 
jr., and his grand'atner, Josiah Hubbard, 
Sr., natives of the state mentioned, were 
farmers by occupation. The jounger man 
removed to Vermont, and there owned and 
managed a good farm until his death. At 
three different times he made his son Solo- 
mon long visits, after the latter's settlement 
in Illinois, but he had no desire to reside in 
the west. He was a man of public spirit 
and patriotism, like his father, who served 
as a colonel in the war of 1812. The 
mother of Solomon Hubbard bore the 
maiden name of Cynthia Cummings. She 
was born in Massachusetts, and was of 
Scotch descent, her family lineage being 
traceable as far back as the fifteenth cen- 
tury. 

To the union of Joseph Hubbard, Jr., 
and wife, twelve chililren were born, two 
of whom died in infancy, and one at the 
age of nine years. Cummings, now deceased, 
married and had three children, Loren and 
Diana and one deceased. Maria became 
the wife of Laac Baldwin, and had three 
children, two of whoai, Josephine and 
Louis E., survive. Mrs. Baldwin now is in 
her ninetieth year. Charles, who died in 
1884 in Sterling, was the father of four 
children, two of whom survive, namely. 
Charles, of Rock Falls, and May. Lucia, 
widow of James Tewksbury, resides in \'er- 



124 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



mont. Frances, widow of Lucien Chamber- 
lain, lives in Vermont. Carlos, who has 
dwelt in Lowell, Massachusetts, for forty- 
seven years, has one child, Harriet. John, 
of Montmorenci township, Whiteside coun- 
ty, has four sons and four da'ighters: Free- 
love, a resident of Cedar Rapids, Hattie, 
William, Herbert, Frank, Dana, Sarah and 
Nellie. 

Solomon Hubbard was born in Thetford, 
Vermont, October 28, 1818. He continued 
to work on the home farm until he was 
eighteen years of age, when he obtained a 
position as a clerk and was thus employed 
until he was twenty-seven years old, in the 
meantime boarding at hoaia. In 1 84S he 
cams to Illinois, and for some seventeen 
years was engaged in business at Dover. 
Altogether he was a citizen of that place for 
twenty-one years, at the end of which time 
he came to Sterling. Here he has been a 
continuous resident for thirty years, and 
has been classed among the representative 
business men. For several years he was 
engaged in merchandising, and for five j'ears 
he conducted a lumber business, which he 
had purchased from Whelan Brown. In 
1868 he bought eight hundred acres of land, 
situated on the Central Pacific Railroad in 
Kansas, and about a decade previously he 
had entered one thousand acres of land in 
Iowa. In addition to this, he bought and 
sold Illinois property for years, and became 
known far and near for his extensive deal- 
ings in real estate. 

In his early manhood, Mr. Hubbard was 
an active worker in local politics, and while 
a resident of Bureau county he served as 
assessor for four years, and at one time was 
a commissioner of highways. He now uses 
his franchise in favor of the Republican 
party. 



In 1845 Mr. Hubbard and Amanda N. 
Belcher were married in Randolph, Mass- 
achusetts. She was born in Ro.xbury, \'er- 
mont, January 6, 1820, and died in 1891. 
Their eldest child, Francis, died when six 
years of age; Helen Ada died when about 
eleven years of age; and Solon died in 
infancy; Harry F. , unmarried, is engaged 
in the coal and wood business in Sterling; 
Frederick B., who is express agent at 
Sterling, married Louisa H. Brown, and 
their three children are: Ada L., Harry S. 
and Paul S. Emma A., who makes her 
home with her father, is the widow of Fred 
B. Shelton, who was a Chicago architect; 
Arthur G., unmarried and living at home, is 
a civil engineer employed on the canal. 



COL. ROBERT L. WILSON, deceased, 
was one of the leading citizens of 
^^'hiteside county for many years, and was 
not only well known in the county, but 
throughout the state and nation. He was 
born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, 
September 11, 1805, and was of Scotch- 
Irish extraction, his ancestors moving from 
Scotland and settling near Belfast, Ireland, 
after the conquest of Ireland by Cromwell 
in the sixteenth century. Later they came 
to the new world, and in 1778 were located 
in York county, Pennsylvania, from which 
place the parents of our subject, with ten 
children, emigrated to what was then the 
"far west, " Washington county, Pennsyl- 
vania, making the journey on pack horses 
over the mountains, there being no wagon 
roads. In 18 10 the family moved still far- 
ther west, locating near Zanesville, Ohio, 
the journey again being made on pack 
horses. Robert L. was then five years old, 
and had the honor of riding a pony. 




COL. ROBERT L. WILSON. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



127 



Twelve years after the arrival of the 
family in Ohio the father died, and our sub- 
ject was thrown on his own resources. Up 
to this time he had attended the pioneer 
schools of his day but very little, but had 
advanced far enouj,'h to read the testament 
and to write very imperfectly. He now at- 
tended the winter terms of school and en- 
gaged in farm labor until he was nineteen 
years old, when having made very rapid 
progress he was qualified to teach. For 
the succeeding three years he engaged in 
teaching a part of each year and was him- 
self a pupil in the schools the remainder of 
the time. He was not satisfied, however, 
with the knowledge thus "obtained, and pro- 
posed to secure a higher education. Secur- 
ing an outfit of books and such clotiiing as 
he felt it necessary to have, with twenty- 
seven dollars in his pocket, he set off on 
foot to New Athens, Ohio, that he might 
enter Franklin College. By dint of hard 
study during terms and teaching school 
through vacations, he finished the course 
and was graduated from the institution. 

After graduating, Mr. Wilson went to 
Bath county, Kentucky, and for two years 
engaged in teaching in the academy at 
Sharpsburg. While there, on the 28th of 
March, 1833, he was united in marriage 
with Miss Eliza J. Kincaid, daughter of An- 
drew and Ann (Caldwell) Kincaid, both of 
whom were natives of Kentucky. In 1834 
the family came to Illinois and located in 
Sangamon county about fourteen miles north 
of Springfield, where Mr. Kincaid engaged 
in farming. His object in removing to Illi- 
nois was to get land for his sons. After a 
long and useful life he was called to his re- 
ward. His wife survived him, djing in her 
ninety-second year. Their family consist- 
ed of eight children, as follows: John, 



now deceased; Archibald, a farmer of San- 
gamon county; Eliza J., widow of our sub- 
ject; William C. , deceased; Mary, widow of 
Alonzo Whitney; Thomas, deceased; Emily, 
wife of Henry Gaines. Of the family Mrs. 
Wilson is the only one who ever removed 
from Sangamon county. Her father felt 
very badly about her removal, and they en- 
tered into a compact to visit each other 
each year of their lives, if possible. At 
that time it took three and a half days to 
make the trip from Sangamon to White- 
side county. The visits were continued by 
each until the parents became too old to 
make the journey, but Mrs. Wilson made 
her annual pilgrimage to the old home 
until her mother's death. Her father was 
a soldier in the war of 18 12. 

While teaching in Sharpsburg, Mr. W'il- 
son read law, and each Saturday rode six 
miles to recite to Judge Robbins. After 
pursuing his studies for about two years, 
and having passed a successful e.xamination, 
he was admitted to practice under the laws 
of Kentucky. In the fall of 1833, he 
emigrated to Illinois, with his young bride, 
and after landing at Beardstown, he pro- 
ceeded to Sangamon county and located 
near Springfield, where he taught his last 
term of school. 

By virtue of his talents, Mr. \\'ilson 
soon became one of the prominent and in- 
fluential citizens of Sangamon county, and 
in 1836 was elected one of the seven mem- 
bers of the legislature from that county. 
There were two state senators elected at 
the same time, and the nine were always 
known and spoken of as the " Long Nine," 
each one of the number being over six feet 
in height. This delegation were all Whigs, 
the senators being Arthur G. Hamilton 
and Job Fletcher, and the representatives 



128 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



were Abraham Lincoln, Ninian W. Ed- 
wards, John Dawson, Andrew McCormick, 
Dan Stone, William F. Elkins and Robert 
L. Wilson. The efforts of the " long nine " 
were mainly directed in securing the re- 
moval of the capital from \'andalia to 
Springfield, in which they were successful. 

In 1840 Mr. Wilson came to Whiteside 
county, Illinois, and was followed by his 
family the next year. He located in Sterl- 
ing, then called Chatham. Soon after his 
arrival he was appointed by Judge Brown, 
clerk of the circuit court, a position which 
had been tendered him by the judge, an old 
personal friend, prior to his removal, the 
judge giving him his choice of the clerkship 
in either Whiteside, Lee, Henry or Carroll 
counties. He wisely chose Whiteside, and 
had never reason to regret his choice. 
After the offlce became an elective one he 
was elected by an overwhelming majority, 
and served continuously until December i, 
i860, a period of nearly twenty-one years. 
No better official has ever filled the office, 
and none have ever given better satisfaction. 
During sixteen years of his incumbency of 
the office he served as recorder of deeds, 
and for eight years he was judge of 
probate. 

In the spring of 1861 Mr. Wilson was in 
Washington, being there at the time Fort 
Sumter was fired on and the first call was 
made by the President for volunteers. He 
at once enlisted as a private in a company 
commanded by Cassius M. Clay, known as 
the Clay Guards. The organization was 
composed principally of non-residents and 
was armed with breech-loading carbines 
from the arsenal in that city. They were 
used principally as night police to guard 
the capitol to prevent its falling into the 
hands of the rebels. After the arrival of 



the Seventh New York Regiment, fifteen 
hundred strong, with a six-gun battery, the 
Clay Guards were mustered out of service, 
and the discharges of the men were signed 
by President Lincoln and Secretary Cam- 
eron. 

On receiving his discharge Mr. Wilson 
returned to Sterling and assisted in raising 
Company A, Thirty-fourth Illinois Volun- 
teer Infantry, and was elected captain, but 
declined the honor in favor of Lieut. Ed- 
ward N. Kirk, afterwards a brigadier-general. 
In July, 1 86 1, he again went to Washing- 
ton, and calling on President Lincoln, who 
was indeed a personal friend and one of the 
famous "long nine," he offered his services 
in any capacity in which he could be useful. 
Mr. Lincoln informed him that he had made 
a list of old friends whom he wished to ap- 
point to office, and that his name was among 
the number. The President then said to 
him: "Now, what do you want.^" Mr. 
Wilson replied: "O! quartermaster will 
do." Mr. Lincoln then said: " I will make 
you paymaster. " The commission was made 
out, the appointment having been confirmed 
by the senate August 7, 1861, and he was 
assigned to duty in Washington and made 
payments to the army on the Potomac. 

By his own request Col. Wilson was 
transferred to the western army, with head- 
quarters at St. Louis. He continued in the 
service four years and four months, when he 
was honorably mustered out and discharged 
with the certificate of non-indebtedness re- 
quired by the civil authorities and the sec- 
ond comptroller of the treasury. During 
his term of service he paid out about sev- 
enteen millions dollars to more than one 
hundred thousand men. 

In 1846 Col. Wilson erected a family 
residence in Sterling, having much of the 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



129 



timber used in its construction hauled by 
teams from Chicago. At that time there 
were but few residences in the place. This 
house lias been continuously in use as the 
family residence to the present time, a period 
of about fifty-four }-ears, and is one of tint 
four houses built about the same time that 
is yet standing. Of the six children born to 
Colonel and Mrs. Wilson two survive. Silas, 
the first born, married Jane Sorher, and 
made his home in Sterling, where his death 
occurred in 1871. He was the father of 
two children. His widow now makes her 
home in California. Anna W. married Mar- 
cus Wisewell, and after his decease she 
married Dr. Ni.xon, who for many years was 
head physician of the Central Pacific Rail- 
road hospital at San Francisco, California. 
He is now deceased, and since his dealh 
Mrs. Nixon studied medicine, and is now 
engaged in practice in Los Angeles, Califor- 
nia. She had two children by her first mar- 
riage: Frank, deceased, and Alice, who lives 
with her mother. Emma, widow of Hugh 
Edwards, makes her home in Los Angeles, 
California. She has four children, as fol- 
lows: Lee, now a practicing physician in 
Lincoln, Nebraska, and who is employed as 
a physician for the inmates of the Nebraska 
state penitentiary; Anna, a teacher in the 
high school at Aledo, Illinois; Mary, a 
teacher at San Monica, California; and Rob- 
ert, who resides with his mother at Los 
Angeles. Robert, who was fourth in order 
of birth, married Bessie Cox, by whom he 
had four children: Robert L., Mary, I^essie 
and Richard. He made his home in Moline, 
but died in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1892. 
The family now reside in Chicago. Lee 
died at the age of sixteen years. 

In 1875, when past seventy years old. 
Colonel Wilson visited Great Britain, and in- 



cluded in his tour nearly all the principal 
cities of Europe. The trip was a delightful 
one and afforded him much comfort in the 
last years of his life. He was always fond 
of travel, but did not get to gratify his taste 
in that direction as much as he desired. 
Having a fair competency he was permitted 
to spend his declining years in ease and re- 
tirement, gratifyin:j his tas'.e for literature 
and reflecting on the past. He took much 
delight in r'^.viewing the exciting events of 
the years in which his life was spent. He 
had a remarkable memory and could easily 
recall such scenes the narration of which 
would interest those with whom he was as- 
sociated. In the compilation of Bent's His- 
tory of Whiteside County he furnished much 
of the material from his well stored mind. 
His death, which occurred March 7, 1S80, 
was a public calamity, and he was sincerely 
mourned by all who knew him in this life. 
He was a good man, a patriotic citizen, a 
friend of the poor and needy, and his mem- 
ory will always be held in grateful remem- 
brance by the people of Whiteside county 
and the state of Illinois, where the best 
years of hig life were spent. 



D.WID G. HARRISON, whose home 
is on Portland avenue, Moirison, Illi- 
nois, has throughout almost his entire life 
been identified with interests of Whiteside 
county, and is numbered among its most 
progressive and successful agriculturists. He 
was born in Beardstown, this state, June 21, 
1842, and is a son of Thomas and Nancy 
(Garlick) Harrison, natives of Derbyshire, 
England, the former born in Glossop, May 
29, 1805, the later July 2, 1806. The 
paternal grandparents, William and Alice 
(Rhubottom) Harrison, spent their entire 



I30 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



lives in Derbyshire. In their family were si.x 
children, four sons and two daughters, 
namely: John, Frederick, Thomas, Alice 
and Mary. All lived and died in England 
with the exception of Thomas, the father of 
our subject. In his native land he was em- 
ployed as overlooker in a cotton mill, all of 
the finished goods of the mill passing 
through his hands. In 1840 he and his 
wife took passage on a sailing vessel bound 
for America, and on landing at New Orleans, 
they proceeded up the Mississippi and Illi- 
nois rivers to Beardstown, Illinois, where 
they made their home for two years. At 
the end of that time they came to White- 
side county, and in Union Grove township, 
Mr. Harrison purchased a claim before the 
land came into market. At different times 
he subsequently added to its forty-acre tracts 
until he owned three hmidred and sixty 
acres of valuable land, for which he paid 
the government price of one dollar and a 
quarter per acre. In his farming operations 
he met with most excellent success and was 
able to spend the last years of his life in 
ease and retirement from active labor. His 
wife died upon the farm, November 7, 1865, 
but his death occurred in Morrison, June 19, 
1877. 

Of the nine children born to this worthy 
couple two died in infancy, one in England 
the other in Illinois. David G., our sub- 
ject, is the oldest now living. (2) Emma is 
the wife of Isaac Hildreth, of Longmont, 
Colorado. (3) John, a railroad carpenter, 
was killed by the cars in 1888, and his wife 
preceded him, leaving two daughters: Alice; 
and Nina, wife of Charles Elliott, of Mor- 
rison, by whom she has one daughter, 
Florence. (4) Mary wedded John Bowman 
and died in 1870, leaving one child, Minnie, 
now the wife of Norman Judd, of Iowa, by 



whom she has two daughters. (5) Sarah 
married Daniel Berry and died February 
20, 1898, leaving four children, three sons 
and one daughter, Charles, Harrison, 
Hartley' and Anna. (6) Charlotte was the 
first wife of Isaac Hildreth, and by that 
union two children were born, Frank and 
Carl. (7) Eliza died unmarried in 1888. 

David G. Harrison was only a year and 
a half old when brought by his parents to 
Whiteside county, where he has since made 
his home, and has never been away a whole 
year at a time during his entire life. He 
was principally educated in the district 
schools but also attended the military school 
at F"u!ton for six months. He remained 
under the parental roof, working for his 
father without wages until twenty-six years 
of age, and then operated the farm on the 
shares for several years, being successfully 
engaged in general farming and stock rais- 
ing. Some time before the death of his 
father, he purchased the interest of the 
other heirs in the place and has since had 
entire control. 

On the 6th of October, 1875, Mr. Har- 
rison was united in marriage with Miss 
Elizabeth Thomson, daughter of William 
Thomson, whose sketch appears on another 
page of this volume. To them were born 
four children, of whom one died in infancy. 
Otto W. married Mamie Heath and lives on 
the old homestead, which he rents of his 
father. Jeanie B. and Euphemia are both 
at home. The wife and mother died April 
6, 1886, and for his second wife, Mr. Har- 
rison married her sister. Miss Mary J. 
Thomson, March 10, 1887. She was born 
December 22, i860, and by her marriage 
has become the mother of four children, of 
whom one died in infancy, and one at the 
age of four years. Those living are Donald 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



131 



F., born December 10, 1887; and Madge 
J., born June 21, 1897. William J. died 
at the age of four years. Albert died at 
the age of two weeks. Otto and Donald 
are the only male representatives of this 
family now living in America besides our 
subject. 

In 1892 Mr. Harrison left the farm and 
removed to Morrison, where he purchased 
property and erected thereon a modern res- 
idence with all improvements. After living 
here for five years he again took possession 
of his farm, which he is now operating most 
successfully. At the polls he votes for the 
man best qualified in his judgment to fill the 
office regardless of party lines. He and 
two of his children are active and prominent 
members of the Baptist church of Morrison, 
in which he is serving as deacon and trus- 
tee, and they are quite prominent socially, 
having a large circle of friends and acquaint- 
ances in Morrison and surrounding country. 



FENNIMORE E. MARCELLUS, a pio- 
neer merchant, and one of the leading 
business men of Fulton, Illinois, is at pres- 
ent manager of the large and well-stocked 
store of Marcellus Bros., who carry a com- 
plete line of clothing, boots, shoes, and 
men's furnishing goods. He was born at 
Burlington Flats, Otsego county. New York, 
March 7, 1835, a son of Rev. Enoch Mar- 
cellus. 

Enoch Marcellus was born and bred in 
the Mohawk Valley, New York, where he 
learned the shoemaker's trade in his youth, 
and afterward established himself as a min- 
ister of the Baptist denomination. In 1842, 
accompanied by his wife and children, he 
came to Whiteside county, traveling by 
canal to Buffalo, thence by the lakes to Chi- 



cago, and from there to Fulton by horse 
team, being piloted by Mr. Coburn, who 
lived in Erie, this county, but had been in 
Chicago on business. He followed his trade 
in Fulton for a time, and also continued 
preaching, having been ordained after set- 
tling here. He subsequently removed to 
Port Byron, Illinois, vvhere he was engaged 
in shoemaking, and at the same time had 
pastoral charge of a congregation. On re- 
tiring from active labors, he returned to 
Fulton, where he and his wife are now liv- 
ing, both well advanced in years, he being 
eighty-four, and she but two years younger. 
Nine children blessed their union, as fol- 
lows: Fennimore, the special subject of 
this brief biographical sketch; Rachel, widow 
of James Babb, resides at Stevens Point, 
Wisconsin; Charles, a member of the Sev- 
enty-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, died 
in Nebraska; Tillison, a resident of Fulton; 
William died in Fulton; Franklin, who en- 
listed in Company I, Seventy-fifth Illinois 
Volunteer Infantry, was wounded in the 
battle at Perrysville, Kentucky, and died 
within a week of his return to Fulton; John, 
a farmer in Boyd county, Nebraska; a 
daughter that died in infancy, while they 
were living in New York; and Kate, wife 
of Walter Gasp, of Fulton. 

Fennimore E. Marcellus was but seven 
years of age when he came to Fulton with 
his parents. He was reared at home, and 
as soon as able was put to work -on the 
farm during the long vacations between the 
terms of the district school in which he was 
educated. At the age of si.xteen he engaged 
in butchering in Fulton, a trade that he fol- 
lowed five or si.\ years. Going then to 
Iowa, he bought land intending to locate 
there permanently, but preferring Illinois as 
a place of residence returned to Fulton, 



132 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



where he opened a restaurant, and in this 
business succeeded so well that in i860 he 
bought the Union Jiouse, which he man- 
aged in connection with his restaurant for 
fourteen years. Then, remodeling the build- 
ing, he put in a good line of men's clothing 
and furnishing goods, and embarked in the 
mercantile business, in which, with the ex- 
ception of a short time he has since been 
engaged. In 1884 he disposed of the stock 
he had on hand and removed to Burt coun- 
ty, Nebraska, where he invested in a sec- 
tion of land, preparatory to engaging exten- 
sively in farming and stock raising, taking 
with him from Fulton six car loads of stock 
and goods. At the end of two years Mr. 
Marcellus asked his sons if they would not 
rather return to Fulton and sell men's over- 
alls. Receiving an affirmative answer, he 
sold out there, and coming back to Fulton 
opened up business at the old stand under 
the firm name of F. E. Marcellus & Sons, 
the junior members being his two sons, 
Fennimore and Franklin. In 1895 he sold 
out his share of the business to his sons, 
and the firm name was changed to Marcellus 
Bros. For some time he remained free 
from active care, but recently has assumed 
management of the old store in Fulton, the 
attention of his sons being often needed at 
their branch store, located at the corner of 
Fourth street and Eighth avenue, Clinton, 
Iowa. 

Mr. Marcellus takes an active interest 
in promoting the welfare of the town and 
county, encouraging and financially aiding 
all enterprises tending to benefit the public, 
and enjoys in a high degree the confi- 
dence and esteem of his fellow men. In 
politics he was a Republican in his early 
life, but for nearly three decades has sup- 
ported the Democratic ticket. He has oc- 



cupied places of prominence in the manage- 
ment of public affairs, having been mayor 
of the city two terms, a trustee of Fulton 
county, tax collector, and in the spring of 
1899 was elected alderman from the second 
ward. 

On November 25, 1853, when but nine- 
teen years old, Mr. Marcellus married Miss 
Anna Shuman, who was born November 25, 
1S33, in Keihl, near Haxtonburg, Germany, 
where she lived until early womanhood. 
Of the eight children born of their union, 
three died in childhood, Frederick and Ida 
when four years old, , and Mary J. at the 
age of two years. Those living are as fol- 
lows: Fennimore; Ella; Franklin; Restoria, 
wife of Daniel Skinner, of Clinton, Iowa; and 
Burt, who is a clerk in the store at Fulton. 



TOHN W. HULETT, one of the leading 
k-J business men of Morrison, Illinois, has 
shown in his successful career that he has 
the ability to plan wisely and execute with 
energy, a combination which, when pos- 
sessed by men in any walk of life, never fail 
to effect notable results. 

Mr. Hulett is a native of this county, 
born March 30, 1855, and is a son of Amos 
A. and Sarah W. (White) Hulett. His 
father was born in Windsor county, Ver- 
mont, April 7, 18 1 2, a son of Benjamin G. 
and Lydia Hulett, both of wiiom are now 
deceased. Mrs. Hulett was born September 
6, 181 8, and was a daughter of Robert and 
Mary White. In the Hulett family were 
five children, namely: Ansel, who died in 
infancy; James H., who married Anna Olds 
and resides in Hall county, Nebraska; Will- 
iam, a resident of Story county, Iowa; 
Robert G., who wedded Mary J. Haslam, 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



133 



now deceased, and resides in Morrison; and 
John W., our subject. 

Under the parental roof John W. Hulett 
remained until twenty-two years of age. 
In early life he followed general farming 
and stock raising with marked success, his 
specialty being cattle and hogs, and he still 
owns a fine farm of two hundred and thirty- 
five acres of land on section 32, Union 
Grove township. In the winter of 1889 he 
moved to Morrison, where he has since car- 
ried on business as a stock dealer, and is 
now also interested in the real estate busi- 
ness. 

On the iith of December, 1877, Mr. 
Hulett was united in marriage with Miss 
Belle Twombly, who was born June 13, 
1857, a daughter of Titus J. and Rosina 
(Cass) Twombly, who were married March 
29, 1854. Her father was born December 
1 1, 1822, and is a son of Daniel and Sarah 
Twombly. In his family are two children: 
Horace, who married Phcebe Harmon and 
resides in Union Grove township; and Belle; 
wife of our subject. Mr. and Mrs. Hulett 
have five children: Pluma B., Ethel M., 
Rosina E., Ra}mond W. and Earl D. 
Socially Mr. Hulett is a member of the 
Knights of Pythias and politically is a strong 
Republican. He is now filling the office of 
constable in Morrison and as a citizen faith- 
fully discharges every duty that devolves 
upon him. 



CHARLES DEEP, now living retired in 
Sterling, has been identified with the 
interests of Whiteside county for almost 
half a century, and is well entitled to a 
place in its history. He was born in Mont- 
gomery county, Pennsylvania, July 20, 
1835, his parents being Michael and Julia 



A. (Grimm) Delp. The father was a na- 
tive of Union county, Pennsylvania, born 
January 5, 1809, and the mother was born 
in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, July 
20, 1810. After their marriage they settled 
upon a small farm, which father carried on, 
spending a portion of his time in working at 
his trade. In 1850, he removed to this 
county with his family, and settling upon a 
farm in Jordan township, ultimately became 
the owner of two hundred and ninety acres, 
though at first he had only sufficient funds 
to purchase part of this property. He was 
ably and cheerfully assisted in his labors by 
his sons, and together thsy managed to lay 
aside a large competence. In 1868 he re- 
tired from business, and thenceforth made 
his home in Sterling. He lived and died 
in the faith of the Mennonite church, his 
death taking place in March, 1890. 

Charles Delp is one of ten children, five 
of whom died when young. Mahlon G., 
who died in Sterling, married Caroline Hun- 
ter, who survives, as do four of their chil- 
dren. Caroline, deceased, was the wife of 
Joseph Snyder, now a resident of Oregon, 
and three of their sons survive. Mary 
A. , Mrs. John S. Weaver, resides in Ster- 
ling, and they have five living children. 
Julia, unmarried, lives with our subject and 
their mother, in Sterling. 

The education of Charles Delp was 
chiefly obtained in his native county, though 
he attended school some after his arrival 
in this county. After his father retired 
from the arduous cares of an agricultural 
life, the young man, who is a practical 
farmer, operated the home place for a num- 
ber of years. In 1S80 the farm was leased 
to a responsible tenant, and Michael Delp 
purchased a lot in Sterling, and erected 
thereon a modern house, which has since 



134 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



sheltered the family. For two years lonf;er, 
he continued to supervise the farm, but, 
having ample means, he is practically re- 
tired at the present time. Fraternally, he 
is associated with Sterling lodge, No. 174, 
I. O. O. F., and politically, he is an active 
worker in the interests of the Republican 
party. 



JOHN J. GREENE, of Prophetstown, is 
now living a retired life in the enjoy- 
ment of a rest which he has truly earned 
and richly deserves by reason of his indus- 
trious efforts of former years. Accomplish- 
ment and progress ever imply labor, energy 
and diligence, and it was those qualities 
that enabled our subject to rise from the 
ranks of the many and stand among the 
successful few. He is now one of the 
highly-respected citizens of Prophetstown 
and his long residence in Whiteside county 
and the active part he has taken in its de- 
velopment well entitles him to representa- 
tion in its history. 

Mr. Greene was born in Chautauqua 
county. New York, May 30, 1835, a son of 
William Greene, whose birth occurred in 
Rhode Island, in 1802. The paternal 
grandfather, Henry Greene, was also a na- 
tive of Rhode Island, from which state he 
removed to Cortland county. New York, 
where he opened up a farm and reared his 
family. When a young man William 
Greene went to Chautauqua county, where 
he married Orrilia Eddy, a native of that 
state and a daughter of Job Eddy, one of 
the early settlers of Chautauqua county. 
There Mr. Greene followed farming for 
some years, but in July, 1853, came to 
Whiteside county, Illinois, locating in 
Prophetstown township, where he followed 



fanning until called from this life in 1S74, 
at the age of seventy-six years. His wife 
long survived him, dying in February, 1899, 
at the advanced age of eighty- five years. 
To them were born eight children, four 
sons and four daughters, of whom seven 
reached years of maturity, and three sons 
and two daughters are now living, namely: 
Albert, a resident of Tallapoosa, Georgia; 
John J., our subject; Horatio and Mrs. 
R. M. Besse, both of Prophetstown; and 
Eliza, wife of E. D. Griswold, of Spring- 
field, Illinois. 

Our subject was eighteen years of age 
on the arrival of the family in this county, 
and he assisted his father in opening up 
and carrying on the home farm. Later he 
engaged in farming in Henry county, Illi- 
nois, where he owned one hundred and 
sixty acres, and then came to Prophetstown, 
where they built an elevator and to deal in 
grain. For four years after the railroad 
was built through the town he was engaged 
in business with H. C. Hull and at the end 
of that time retired from the grain business. 
He then formed a partnership with P. H. 
Smith and for ten years was interested in 
general merchandising. On selling out he 
turned his attention to the hardware trade 
for the following decade and then turned 
the business over to his son and has since 
lived retired. 

In Prophetstown, Mr. Greene was mar- 
ried, December 10, 1861, to Miss Sarah E. 
Kimball, a native of Cumberland county, 
Maine, who came to Illinois with her par- 
ents, P. H. and Susan (Stanley) Kimball, 
in January, 1854. They located on a farm 
in Prophetstown township, where they 
spent the remainder of their lives. The 
mother, who was born in Beverly, Massa- 
chusetts, died June 15, 1866, and the father, 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



135 



who was born in Ipswich, the same state, 
died Februar}- 13, 1891. They had five 
children who reached man and womanhood, 
namely: l^enjamin, who died in California 
when a young man; Caleb, who has been 
cashier of the First National Bank of South 
Bend, Indiana, for about thirty-two 
years; John, a retired farmer of Tampico, 
Illinois; Susan E. , wife of Dr. David 
Choate, a leading physician of Salem, 
Massachusetts; and Sarah E., wife of our 
subject. Mrs. Greene's paternal grandfa- 
ther, Caleb Iviinball, and her maternal great- 
grandfather. Wells Stanley, were both sol- 
diers of the Revolutionary war, and she and 
her daughter, Mrs. Stone, are now members 
of the Society of the Daughters of the 
American Revolution. Our subject and his 
wife have two children: .Allen S., a promi- 
nent business man of Prophetstown, who 
married Agnes Warner, a daughter of Jack- 
son Warner, and has two children, Marjorie 
and Warner; and Minnie A., wife of H. J. 
Stone, also a leading business man of 
Prophetstown, by whom she has one child, 
Velma. 

While not members of any religious de- 
nomination, Mr. and Mrs. Greene attend 
and give to the support of the Congrega- 
tional church of Prophetstown, and are 
among the most highly respected citizens of 
the town. Since the organization of the 
Republican party he has been one of its 
stanch supporters, voting for Fremont in 
1856, and he has served as a delegate to 
county and state conventions. ,\s a pub- 
lic-spirited and enterprising citizen, he has 
ever taken an active interest in public af- 
fairs, and has been prominently identified 
with the upbuilding of his town and county. 
He most creditably served as president of 
the town board for a number of years, and 



for eighteen years was a member of the 
school board, during which time the present 
school house was built. While a resident 
of Henry county he served as supervisor of 
his township for two years, and served as 
justice of the peace for four jears. 



Mtu 



AKSHALL TURNER LEE. For 
a century Marshall Turner Lee 
has been numbered among the progressive, 
energetic citizens of Whiteside county, and 
at present he is living practically retired at 
his pleasant home in Sterling. Following in 
the footsteps of his patriotic father, who 
won honors for his gallant service in the 
war of 18 12, he fought for more than three 
years during the war of the Rebellion, par- 
ticipating in some of the most arduous cam- 
paigns of that terrible conflict. In years of 
peace, no less than in those of war, he has 
bravely performed his duty, and is justly 
entitled to a place in the nation's roll of 
honor. 

Alexander S. Lee, father of our subject, 
was born in Herkimer county, New York, 
i'l ^79?)- The latter's mother, whose maiden 
name was Angeline Scoville, was born in 
Tonawanda, New York, in 1804, and re- 
sided there at the time of her marriage. 
During the war of 18 12, the young husband 
enlisted in the American army, and fought 
at Plattsburg, the last battle of the war. 
.Alexander and Angeline Lee were the par- 
ents of nine children. Susan first married 
D. Masten, and their daughter, Mrs. Salome 
Sunmer, had fcjur children. The second 
marriage of Susan was witii Alexander 
Atherton, who also has passed away, and 
his widow now makes her home with our 
subject. Hiram, who was a life-long farmer 
and resident of I'enns\ hania, died while 



136 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



making a visit in Ohio, and was buried 
near his old home. Of his twelve children, 
four survive. Lafayette, deceased, formerly 
of Erie county, Pennsylvania, had three 
children. Mary, widow of Charles Small- 
edge, and mother of Charles, Jerome, Dell, 
and Salome, resides in Steuben county. 
New York. Myra died at the age of nine- 
teen years. Pauline, deceased, was the 
wife of James K. Hankey, and their son, 
Frank, now lives in Chicago. Mercy A., 
deceased, was the wife of James Gunder, 
and of their twelve children eight are living. 
Abner, deceased, made his home on the 
parental farm until his death, and his widow 
still resides there. Their si.x children are: 
Allie, Anna, Myron, James, Ida and Effie. 

In 1849, Alexander S. Lee emigrated to 
Whiteside county, and settled upon a farm 
of one hundred acres, in Genesee township. 
He worked at his trade as carpenter until 
advancing years compelled him to retire. 
Thenceforth he made his home with his son, 
Abner, until he was summoned to his re- 
ward in 1883. His wife departed this life 
in 1 88 1, at the home of our subject. They 
were highly esteemed by everyone, and to 
their children they left the heritage of un- 
blemished names. 

Marshall T. Lee was born in Erie coun- 
ty, Pennsylvania, June 7, 1837, and there 
he lived until he was twelve years of age. 
He early mastered the various details of 
agriculture and remained under the parental 
roof until reaching his majority. As an in- 
itial step in independent life, he chose Eliza- 
beth Wetzell as a wife, their marriage being 
celebrated December 18, 1859. She is a 
daughter of Daniel and Mary fBidler) Wet- 
zell, and was born in Canton, Ohio, in 1842. 
W'ilh her parents, who likewise were na- 
tives of Ohio, she came to Illinois when a 



young girl. Mr. and Mrs. Lee have seven 
sons, namely: Francis M., Marshall T. , 
Charles J., Abram L. , John H., Fay and 
Daniel W. Francis M. , of Springville, 
Iowa, married Nettie Wilbur, and their two 
children are Zella and Wilbur. Marshall 
T., of Rock Falls, is a salesman for the 
Lee Harness Attachment Company, of Chi- 
cago, and is the inventor and patentee of 
the article manufactured. He married 
Nancy Brett, and has three children — 
Harry, Lawrence and Lottie. Charles ]., 
who is an enterprising farmer of Hume 
township, married Erma Van DeMark, and 
their four children comprise: Wayne, Le- 
land, Mildred and an infant. Abram L., 
who has been employed for ten years by 
the Rock Falls Manufacturing Company, of 
Sterling, married Mamie Boos, and has two 
children, Nellie and Fern. John H., a 
leading attorney of Chicago, is a graduate 
of the Sterling schools, and of the civil en- 
gineering and electrical department of the 
State University of Wisconsin. He received 
the degree of Doctor of Laws in Kent Col- 
lege of Law, in Chicago, where he was 
graduated with high honors, and since then 
has been engaged in practice, his office being 
in the Monadnock building, Chicago. He is 
an able business man, and was one of the 
organizers of the Lee Harness Attachment 
Company-. His wife formerly was Miss 
Lillie McLain. Fay, a resident of Rock 
Falls, married Belle Wilson, and their only 
child is named William. Daniel is a mem- 
ber of the class of 1900 of Kent College of 
Law, and also is employed as a stenogra- 
pher in his brother's office in Chicago. 

Subsequent to the marriage of our sub- 
ject and wife they settled upon a fifty-acre 
farm in Genesee township, and were living 
there, busily occupied in the varied duties 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



137 



of aj^'ricultiire, when the Civil war broke 
out. In October, 1861, Mr. Lee enlisted 
in Company H, Fifty-fifth Illinois Volun- 
teers. For some time he was in the hos- 
pital, and as soon as able to do so he joined 
his comrades and participated in many of 
the important battles of the war. Among 
others, he was active in the battles of Look- 
out Mountain, Mission Ridge, Kenesaw 
Mountain, E^ra Chapel and Sherman's 
march to the sea. At Ezra Chapel the rebels 
charged the Union army five times during 
the day, and when night came on the small 
division in which Mr. Lee was stationed 
buried about six hundred soldiers in gray who 
had fallen in front of their lines. After the 
almost continuous skirmishing of the long, 
weary march to the sea he went to Wash- 
ington, where he took part in the grand re- 
view, and received his honorable discharge 
in August 25, 1865. 

After his return home he commenced the 
cultivation of a farm of one hundred and 
twenty acres, which was situated in Hutne 
township, and which he had purchased in 
1864, when he was at home on a furlough. 
From time to time he added more land to 
his original purchase, until when he was 
ready to retire from active labors his pos- 
sessions amounted to six hundred and 
twenty-four acres, all being under high cul- 
tivation. He also raised, bought and shipped 
live stock extensively, and since 1888, when 
he leased his farm, he has been engaged in 
buying and shipping cattle to the city 
markets. He has been practically retired 
for the past decade, but in the meantime 
has taken much pleasure in building homes 
for each of his sons who live in Sterling. 
Besides furnishing the plans for them he has 
almost entirely built these dwellings, and at 
present he is occupied in the erection of a 



modern house for himself. When completed 
it will have cost about four thousand dol- 
lars, to saj' nothing of the work and time 
he has devoted to it. 

While a resident of Hume township Mr. 
Lee was honored by his friends and neigh- 
bors, who elected him to the offices of col- 
lector and road commissioner. The cause 
of education has ever found in him a friend, 
and for several years he served as a school 
director. Politically he cast his first vote 
for I^incoln, and has ever since championed 
the Republican party. Fraternally he is 
identified with William Robinson post, No. 
274, G. A. R. 



M-\' 



ARCUS R. LYON. The subject of 
his personal narrative is one of the 



most successful and progressive farmers 
within the borders of Tampico township, 
his home being on section 6. He has made 
his special field of industry an eminent suc- 
cess, and is highly esteemed and respected 
by those who know him best. 

Mr. Lyon was born in Medina county, 
Ohio, February 27, 1845, and belongs to an 
old Vermont family, which was founded in 
that state by his great-grandfather and two 
brothers, natives of Scotland, who came to 
the new world during the Revolutionary war. 
The great-grandfather opened up a farm in 
Orleans county. The grandfather, Nehe- 
miah Lyon, and the father of our subject, 
Baxter Lyon, were both born upon that >< 
farm, which is still in possession of the Lyon 
family. The latter was born July 13, 1820, 
and remained in his native state until twenty 
years of age, when he went to Medina 
county, Ohio, where he cleared, improved 
and cultivated a farm and also worked at 
his trade of blacksmith, which he continued 



138 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



to follow for some years after coming to 
Whiteside county, Illinois. In Medina 
county he married Miss Sarah A. Vaughn, 
a native of New York and a daughter of 
George Vaughn. In December, 1849, they 
came to this county, making the journey 
with teams, and they located near the present 
city of Morrison, where the father bought 
one hundred and sixty acres of land with 
state script. Upon his place he built a 
frame house, 24 .\ 26 feet, and a story and a 
half in height, doing most of the carpenter 
work himself. The first winter it was only 
sided up and was not lathed and plastered, 
and the family suffered very much from the 
cold. In fact, during the first two winters 
"they e.xperienced many hardships and priva- 
tions, incident to life on the frontier. Upon 
his farm the father also built a shop and did 
blacksmithing for his neighbors. As his 
financial resources increased, he bought 
more land, until he owned nearly seven 
hundred acres; and he was one of the most 
active, enterprising and prominent farmers 
of the county. Selling his property near 
Morrison, he moved to Tampico township, 
where he resided for a few years, and on 
disposing of his farm there he bought an- 
other in Lyndon township. A few years 
later he moved to Harvey county, Kansas, 
where he opened up a new farm and became 
the owner of six hundred acres. There he 
died on his seventy-third birthday. The 
wife and mother departed this life in Octo- 
ber, 1S95, in Whiteside county, Illinois. 

Marcus R. Lyon was about four years 
old when brought by his parents to this 
county, and he was educated in the common 
schools of Morrison, which he attended 
only during the winter months, the summer 
season being occupied with work on the 
home farm. After reaching manhood he 



had charge of the place until twenty-five 
years of age. When nineteen years old he 
began running a threshing machine, and 
later bought and operated a horse-power 
machine for several years. Still later he 
owned a steam thresher and also a corn- 
sheller, and now for over thirty-four years 
he has engaged in threshing, first around 
Morrison and later near his present home in 
Tampico township. 

In Jones county, Iowa, February 28, 
1870, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. 
Lyon and Miss Minerva Miller, a native of 
Warren county, Indiana, and a daughter of 
John T. and Charlotte (Morris) Miller. 
Her father was born in Ohio, but was 
reared and married in Indiana, and from the 
latter state moved to Jones county, Iowa, 
where he opened up a farm and reared his 
family. His wife died there November i, 
1895, and he only survived her about a 
week, dying November 8, 1895. To Mr. 
and Mrs. Lyon ten children have been born, 
namely: Lottie B., now the wife of Frank 
E. West, of Tampico; Lewis L., who is 
married and engaged in farming on one of 
his father's farms; Gracie, who died at the 
age of twelve years; Hubart, who assists his 
father in the operation of the home farm; 
Kate, at home; Rhoda A., who is attending 
the home school; Martha, who died at the 
age of a 3'ear and a half; Mina and Minerva, 
twins, at home; and Marcus R. , Jr., at 
home. 

After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Lyon 
located on a farm near Morrison, he having 
purchased one hundred and twenty acres of 
the old home farm, and there they resided 
for five years. He then sold the place and 
before night of the same day had purchased 
one hundred and sixty acres of land on sec- 
tion 6, Tampico township, where he now 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



139 



resides. To its further improvement and 
cultivation he has since devoted his energies, 
and has extended the boundaries of the farm 
until they now enclose two hundred and 
forty acres of rich and arable land which he 
has placed under a high state of cultivation. 
Near it he also owns another valuable and 
well-improved farm of two hundred and forty 
acres, and upon both places is a good set of 
farm buildings. Progressive, energetic and 
industrious, the success that he has achieved 
in life is due entirely to his own well-directed 
efforts. He is a skillful farmer and a man 
of good business ability. The Republican 
party always finds him a stanch supporter 
of its principles, and he cast his first presi- 
dential ballot for Gen. U. S. Grant, in 1868. 
He has been a member of the school board 
for 3'ears, and clerk of the district, and al- 
ways takes a commendable interest in every- 
thing which he believes calculated to advance 
the intellectual, moral or material welfare of 
his township and county. For half a cen- 
tury he has been a resident of the county 
and has watched with interest almost its 
entire growth and development, and has 
ever borne his part in its advancement. 



HENRY HOOVER is one of Morrison's 
highly respected citizens, whose usefu- 
and well-spent life has not only gained for 
him the confidence of his fellow men but 
have also secured for him a comfortable 
competence which enables him to lay aside 
all business cares and spend his declining 
days in ease and retirement. He was born 
near Aaronsburg, Center county, Pennsyl- 
vania, March 24, 1834, a son of Andrew 
and Sarah (Creider) Hoover, both of whom 
were of German descent and of Revolu- 
tionary stock. The father was a life-long 



resident of Centre county, where he owned 
property and where his death occurred in 
1842. The mother was born and reared 
there and was a daughter of John Creider. 
After her husband's death she removed to 
Philadelphia, where one of her older sons 
was living. 

Our subject was the youngest of a fam- 
ily of seven children. He received a good 
practical education in the common schools 
of Philadelphia, but began work at an early 
age in order to help support his mother. 
P'or three years he clerked in a grocery store, 
and for two years was with Dr. Jaynes in 
his large drug store on Chestnut street. He 
was married in 1856, to Miss Mary A. 
lirown, of Philadelphia, a daughter of An- 
drew l^rovvn, of Jersey Shore, Pennsylva- 
nia, and in March of the following year, ac- 
companied by his wife and mother, became 
to Fulton, Whiteside county, Illinois; it re- 
(juired eight days at that time to make the 
trip on the cars. On landing here his cap- 
ital consisted of but two dollars and a half 
in gold. Being a young man from the city, 
the prospect at Fulton did not seem very 
bright to him, and the first year spent here 
proved a very hard one. His mother was 
taken ill and died the fall after locating 
here, and his wife was also ill all summer. 
Mr. Hoover worked hard, but the value of 
the money then in circulation was very un- 
certain. He operated a rented farm in 
partnership with a man from New York 
who tried to cheat him out of all that 
they made, but when the war broke out 
times began to be belter. 

During the four years of that conflict 
Mr. Hoover was postmaster and station 
agent at Clifton, in the work of which posi- 
tion he was ably assisted by his wife, while 
he devoted a part of his time to the carpen- 



I40 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ter's trade. In this way he secured a start 
and was able to purchase a team and also 
bought five cows, for which he gave his own 
note unendorsed by others. He operated a 
farm of eighty acres near Clifton that year 
and made enough to pay for his cows. For 
four years he rented land, during which 
time he devoted considerable attention to 
stock raising, and although he lost many 
hogs of cholera, he prospered in the under- 
taking and at one sale took in thirteen hun- 
dred dollars. He then purchased an eighty- 
acre tract of land in Ustick township, which 
at that time was covered with brush and 
trees, but acre after acre was soon cleared, 
grubbed and placed under cultivation, 
though it was an arduous task to transform 
the wild land into well-tilled fields. He 
built a fine house upon his place and en- 
gaged in general farming and stock raising, 
meeting with such good success that in 
1891 he was able to purchase one hundred 
and sixty acres on the opposite side of the 
road. This is now all paid for, is improved 
with good buildings and is one of the finest 
farms of its size in Ustick township. 

Mr. and Mrs. Hoover have seven chil- 
dren: Bertha, now the wife of William 
Thompson, of Ustick; George, who mar- 
ried Neva Baber and lives in Fulton; I-'red, 
a manufacturer of Kansas City; Nellie, 
wife of John H. Fox, of Sterling; William, 
who died at the age of twenty-four years 
and six months; Frank, who lives on the 
home farm; May, wife of Dr. Clenden- 
ing, of Fulton. The parents are both 
earnest and consistent members of the 
Methodist Episcopal church, and while a 
nieiuber of the congregation at Cotton- 
wood, Mr. Hoover served as class leader, 
steward and superintendent of the Sunday- 
school for a number of years. His political 



support is always given the Republican 
party, and for twenty-seven years he was 
clerk of Ustick township, his service being 
interrupted only by the four years spent in 
Sterling while educating his sons. He 
built a good residence in that city, but 
afterward sold the place. In the spring of 
1S98 he removed to Morrison and erected 
his present fine home on West Grove 
street, where he expects to spend his re- 
maining years in ease and quiet. The suc- 
cess that he has achieved in life is well de- 
served, his prosperity being due entirely to 
his own unaided efforts, good management 
and industry. 



JOHN SCHWAB, a member of the firm 
of Schwab Brothers, general merchants 
at Fulton, Illinois, and foreman for the Joyce 
Lumber Company, is one of the substantial 
and prominent business men of the city, 
and an important factor in promoting its 
advancement and prosperity. He was born 
December 25, 1857, at Williamsburg, New 
York, a son of Gottlieb Schwab. 

Gottlieb Schwab was born June 22, 
1S22, in W.irteinburg, Germany, where he 
worked as a wine manufacturer during his 
early manhood. He there married Hen- 
rietta Munz, and the following year sailed 
for America, arriving at Williamsburg, New 
York, about two months prior to the birth 
of their eldest child. Two years later he 
moved to Illinois, and settled in Fulton, 
where he was afterwards known by the 
name of John, his own name being hard to 
speak. Securing work on the Northwest- 
ern railway, he continued thus occupied 
until retiring from active labor, a few years 
before his death, which occurred at his 
home July 9, 1898. His widow survives 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



141 



him. They reared nine children, as fol- 
lows: John, the special subject of this 
sketch; Frederick, belonginj; to the firm of 
Schwab Brothers, and also head filer in the 
large saw mill; Frank, employed in the 
shinfjle manufacturing department of tiie 
saw mill; Christina, wife of James Carrier, 
of Fulton; George, formerly road master 
for the Northwestern Railway Company, is 
now a brakeman on their road; Henry, in 
business in Fulton; Emma, wife of Albert 
L. Draper, who is engaged in the literary 
and publishing business in F"ulton; David, 
gang-saw filer in the saw mill; and Louis, 
one of the partners in the store and man- 
ager of the business. 

John Schwab received his early educa- 
tion in the district schools of Fulton, where 
he grew to man's estate, attending as he 
had opportunity. At the age of eight years 
he began to partly earn his own living by 
working in the clay pipe factory, an indus- 
try that he pursued five years. Then after 
farming awhile, doing boy's work for a 
neighbor, he was employed in the Fulton 
pottery a few years. Giving up his position 
there he sjcured employment as a regular 
hand in the saw mill and was later made 
an assistant in the filing department. There 
he proved himself so skillful a mechanic that 
he was promoted at the end of two years to 
gang-saw filer, and subsequently was raised 
to the position of foreman of the filing 
room. Here his genius and mechanical 
ability gave him such prestige that he was 
asked, in 1887, to become foreman of the 
mill, a position of responsibility that he 
still holds. This mill is the most impor- 
tant industrial plant of the town, when 
running on full time gi\ing employment to 
one hundred and forty men, and producing 
twenty million feet of lumber per annum. 



The store in which he has an interest was 
founded in 1892 by Simon Feet and Fred- 
eric Schwab, the latter being the junior 
partner. The following year John Schwab 
became a partner in the concern, and in 
1S95 John McCrea was admitted to the 
firm, and the name was changed to McCrea, 
Schwab & Co., under which business was 
continued two years, when Louis Schwab 
purchased Mr. McCrea's interest and be- 
came manager of the business, which has 
since been conducted under its present firm 
name. 

In politics Mr. Schwab was actively 
identified with the Democrats until the sil- 
ver issue, when he joined the Republican 
forces. He has been influential in public 
affairs, having represented his ward as alder- 
man twelve years in succession, and having 
served as mayor two years, from 1897 until 
1899. He is now a trustee and the vice- 
president of the Fulton Cemetery Associa- 
tion. 

On June 32, 1880, Mr. Schwab married, 
at Princeton, Iowa, Miss Lillie P. Stichter, 
who was born in Troy, New York, a daugh- 
ter of John Stichter, who removed to Iowa 
with his family when Mrs. Schwab was a 
child. Mr. and Mrs. Schwab have one 
child, a daughter, Grossing Schwab. 



EDWARD WYATT, engineer for the 
Joyce Lumber Company, at Fulton, 
Illinois, is well (jualified for the responsible 
position he holds by reason of knowledge 
and experience. He was born February 26, 
1832, in Leamington, Warwick county, 
England, a son of William and Elizabeth 
(Sweet) Wyatt. 

At the age of fourteen years Mr. Wyatt 
began the battle of life on his own account 



142 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



by entering the factory and machine shops 
of George Nelson, of \\'ar\vick, as an ap- 
prentice. After serving six years and one 
month in that capacity, he secured a posi- 
tion in a much larger foundry and factory, 
where for two years he was one ol the five 
hundred employees. Returning then to his 
former employer he remained with him un- 
til the summer of 1855, when he embarked 
for America, whither he arrived July 17, 
and was first greeted with the news of the 
fall of Sebastopol. Going directly to De- 
troit, Michigan, Mr. Wyatt began work in 
Pitt's sawmill, in the machinery department. 
The following September he came to Lyons, 
Iowa, and until February, 1S56, was em- 
ployed in the sawmill of John Pickering, 
whom he left to enter the machine shops of 
Graham & Company, where, the next Au- 
gust, he was unfortunate enough to meet 
with such a serious injury as to cause the 
loss of his right hand in the planer. The 
ensuing six years Mr. Wyatt had charge of 
the engine in the sash factory of M. A. 
Desbrow, of Lyons. On April 6, 1865, he 
assumed the duties of his present position 
as engineer in the sawmill at Fulton, and 
during the thirty-five years that ha\e inter- 
vened has been faithful to his employers, 
ever as mindful of their interests as of his 
own. In i<S92 he took a trip to California, 
and in the fall of that year was sick for 
three months, but with these exceptions he 
has seldom been absent from his post. 

Mr. Wyatt has been prominently identi- 
fied with many of the foremost industries of 
this part of the county, and has usually been 
fortunate in his ventures, although he lost 
$5,000 through one investment. He is a 
director and stockholder of the Lyons Sash 
& Door Factory; he is also one of the com- 
mittee of the Lyons Cemetery Association; 



and was one of the promoters, and a direct- 
or, of the Fulton Electric Light and Power 
Company, of which he is still a stock- 
owner. 

Fraternall}' Mr. \\'3att has been an Odd 
Fellow for nearly forty years, and is past 
noble grand of the Manchester lodge, of 
England; he is likewise a member of Lyons 
encampment of which he has been C. P. 
and H. P. ; formerly he was a Ivnight of 
Maccabees; and he was one of the first mem- 
bers of Forrest camp, No. 2, M. W. A., in 
which he filled all offices. Though not con- 
nected with any religious organization by 
membership, he inclines towards the Church 
of England, but attends and contributes 
towards the support of churches of all de- 
nominations. 

Mr. Wyatt is a man of spotless integrity, 
and those who best know him respect him 
for his business qualities and faithfulness, 
and honor him for his manliness and strength 
of character. 



CHARLES C. KNIGHT, a retired farmer 
living on section 36, Fulton township, 
is numbered among the pioneers of 1S40, 
who made Whiteside county their home, 
and ha\'e here labored to build up a sub- 
stantial and thriving connt\'. He was born 
near Belfast, Maine, at the mouth of the 
Penobscot river, and is the son of George 
W. and Lydia Abigail (Duncan) Knight, 
both of whom were also natives of Maine, 
and where the latter died during the early 
childhood of our subject. The father was 
a seafaring man, engaged in the coasting 
trade and in fishing. He also owned a 
small farm which he cultivated with the aid 
of his sons. The family is of English origin, 
the grandfather of our subject being one of 




C. C. KNIGHT. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



'4: 



four brothers who came from I^nglaiicI dur- 
ing the eighteenth century. George W. 
Knight was reared by General Ulmer, of 
Revolutionary fame. He was a man of re- 
tiring disposition, never aspiring to public 
position, or endeavoring to attract public 
attention. In 1833 he removed from his 
old home in Maine to Licking county, Ohio, 
about twenty-seven miles east of Columbus, 
and three years later settled in Schuyler 
county, Illinois, being a pioneer in that lo- 
cality, where his last days were spent. He 
was married three times, his first wife dying 
in Maine, his second one in Ohio, and the 
third in Schuyler county, Illinois. 

The subject of this sketch came west 
with his father, and was with him in Ohio 
and Schuyler county, Illinois. While liv- 
ing in the latter county he was apprenticed 
by his father to learn the saddlery trade, 
but his master being a very dissolute man 
he did not long remain in his employ. He 
is one of twelve children, three of whom are 
yet living. William, who went to Cali- 
fornia in 1850, is a retired farmer, now re- 
siding in the city of Clinton, Iowa. He run 
the first steam ferry between Fulton and 
Lyons, Iowa, and was well known on both 
sides of the river. Charles C. is the sub- 
ject of this sketch. John, who also went 
to California in 1850 and there remained 
some years, now makes his home in Clinton, 
Iowa. 

While still in the employ of the saddler 
at Riishville, Illinois, our subject acted as 
substitute carrier of the mail between 
Springfield and Rushville, making two trips, 
each trip occupying three days. He was 
then but twelve jears old and the journey 
of fifty miles was to him a long one. Rid- 
ing a pony, he carried the mail in what was 
called saddle-bags. Leaving the employ of 



the saddler, he went into the country and 
made his home with a cousin for a short 
time and then secured employment with 
John Ewing, a farmer of Schuyler county, 
at si.\ dollars per month. His employer 
being well pleased with his services tried to 
persuade him to remain with him until he 
was twenty-one years old. About this 
time, however, his brother William, who, 
in 1838, had settled in Whiteside county, 
came through on his way home from the 
.south and prevailed on him to accompany 
him to Whiteside count}-. This was in 
1 840, and he was now fourteen years old 
but well developed physically and capable 
of enduring a good deal of hard work. 
Soon after his arrival, his brother William 
secured four yoke of oxen and the two went 
into Mt. Pleasant township and broke a 
half section of land belonging to John 
Steaks, and which now comprises the east- 
ern part of the city of Morrison. While 
usually employed on farms, for the next few 
years our subject worked at odd jobs, and 
as he was given opportunity attended 
school, securing a common-school educa- 
tion. The first school he attended in 
\\'hiteside county was one held in the home 
of Amos Short, who employed Armenia 
Ingham, who was but sixteen years old, to 
teacli his children, some five or six in num- 
ber. Miss Ingham's younger sister, Nanc\', 
and our subject, together with the children 
of Mr. Short, comprised the entire school, 
which was held upstairs in a log house. 
Nancy later became the wife of Joshua 
Hollingshead, while Miss Armenia married 
Reuben Patrick. She now resides in Chi- 
cago. 

In 1846 Mr. Knight pre-empted his 
present farm of one hundred and sixty acres 
and commenced its improvement. He broke 



146 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



fifteen acres of land the first season and 
sowed it to wheat which in due time he 
harvested, and with two yoke of oxen hauled 
one load of the grain to Chicago, the round 
trip requiring eleven days and during the 
trip he slept under the wagon. The wheat 
brought si.\ty-si.\ cents per bushel. Other 
improvements were made on the land dur- 
ing the same season, and several more acres 
were broken. ,A home without a wife was 
not to be thought of, and on the loth of 
November, 1847, Mr. Knight was united in 
marriage with Miss Julia Hollingshead, a 
native of Canada, and daughter of John 
and Elizabeth (Rush) Hollingshead, who 
came from Canada in 1839, and located in 
what is now Clyde township, but later 
moved to Ustick township, where two of the 
brothers of Mrs. Knight, Daniel and Joshua 
Hollingshead, yet reside. 

The first home of Mr. and Mrs. Knight 
was a small frame building, 14x18 feet, 
which he bought from a young man who 
was going to abandon his claim. The house 
was moved on sleds a distance of two miles, 
the neighbors turning out with several yoke 
of o.xen to assist in moving it. The three 
winters succeeding his marriage, Mr. Knight 
spent in the northern pineries, his wife re- 
maining at home and managing the farm. 
The fall prior to his marriage he spent on 
the lower Mississippi and Ohio rivers as 
fireman and deck hand, during which time 
he gained experience in river craft. In the 
spring of 1850 he had quite an experience in 
rafting on the Wisconsin and Mississippi 
rivers. He had gone up early in August, 
1849, and having been away from home, 
wife and baby for about eight months was 
anxious to get back. A raft of hewed logs 
and shaved shingles had been constructed on 
the Lemonwell, a tributary of the Wisconsin 



river, which emptied into it about ten miles 
above the dells, and when completed, in 
company with some others engaged in like 
business with him started on the journey. 
While on the Wisconsin river they could 
only run the raft in daylight, but when the 
the Mississippi river was reached the raft 
was left to drift in the channel. On the 
last day's run they passed Savanna in day- 
light. Soon afterwards the wind began to 
blow and they were required to lie up for a 
time. About sundown they started out 
again, and darkness coming on, Mr. Iviiight 
took his position on the bow to guide the 
raft and prevent its running into an island. 
They were in much fear that in rounding the 
point at the head of Cat Tail slough, which 
they reached about two o'clock in the morn- 
ing, the current would send them across to 
the other side of the river. But by swing- 
ing abruptly and using every energy the 
danger was passed and they landed at the 
dock of the present lumber yard. Mr. 
Knight could only tell his location, how- 
ever, by the hill reflected against the sky. 
After landing he started for the home of 
Joshua Hollingshead where his wife and 
child were staying. The low ground of Cat 
Tail was covered with water for some eighty 
rods and the companion of Mr. Knight was 
in some doubt about venturing through it. 
Knowing well every foot of the ground, and 
knowing that in no place could it be more 
than breast deep, Mr. Knight told his com- 
panion to keep his eye on him and to follow. 
They soon passed over the dangerous ground 
and reached the home of Mr. Hollingshead 
about daylight. 

In 1852 the land around Fulton was 
surveyed, and Mr. Knight found that only 
the north half of his quarter-section was 
government land, while the south half was 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



■47 



county land. The former he secured by 
the payment of one dollar and twenty-live 
cents per acre, and for the latter he paid 
between three and four dollars. The wal- 
nut trees which are now on his place he 
planted in 1S48, some lifty-one years ago. 
This was before the Fulton and Morrison 
road was located and there was great diffi- 
culty in getting around and across Cat Tail 
slough. A contract was let to different par- 
ties for digging ditches on either side of the 
road, the ditches to be six feet wide and 
two and a half feet deep. The soil was 
very sticky, and the parties who took the 
contract gave it up soon after commencing 
the work. Mr. I\night was anxious to have 
the road constructed and took the entire 
contract, not another man being willing to 
engage in it. He commenced the work in 
the fall of 1846 and spent the entire sum- 
mer on the work, receiving one dollar per 
rod. He dug some three hundred rods of 
ditch through the worst kind of swampy, 
waxy land, ^^'hen he completed his con- 
tract he found there was no money in the 
county treasury with which to pay him, and 
the only way in which he could secure it 
was by taking warrants with which his 
neighbors could pay their tax the next 
year, paying him the gold for them. This 
incident illustrates the shifts necessary to 
do business in pioneer times. 

Mr. Knight tells of the first ferry at 
Fulton, as it was related to him by Mr. 
Fellows before the latter's death. The 
active persons in the construction of the 
boat were Mr. Jenks, Mr. Jenkins, Henry 
Fellows and another man. The oak for 
the gunwale was from the hill near Fulton, 
and the two-inch plank for the bottom of 
the boat was sawed in a little up-and-down 
saw mill on Rock creek, northeast of Mor- 



rison, some twenty-iive or thirty miles dis- 
tant. The boat as built was about twenty- 
live feet long and ten feet wide, the planks 
being nailed on the bottom. This left the 
boat upside down, but it was turned over 
and launched. Filling it with rock, it was 
pushed out into the channel of the river, a 
rope having. been attached to each end. In 
pushing it out the rock moved to one side 
and the boat overturned. After righting it 
the boat was completed and made ready for 
use. It was propelled by oars by two men, 
with one man to steer. They would row 
up near the shore for half a mile, then start 
diagonally across, taking advantage of the 
current. The boat was owned and operat- 
ed for some years by Augustus Phelps, who, 
with Mr. Cheene)', was the proprietor of 
the only store in Fulton for some years. 

This boat was purchased by William 
Knight in 1849, and operated by him until 
1850, when he rented it and went to Cali- 
fornia. On his return, two years later, he 
again engaged in ferrying, using horse power. 
In about 1S54 he went down to the Ohio 
river and purchased a steam ferry boat, the 
first one used in this locality. This he 
operated for some time. It was named the 
Sarah, for his wife. 

When Mr. Knight located on his present 
farm a portion of it was swamp land and 
covered with niuskrat houses. It was a 
g;ood place for water fowl and their eggs 
were plentiful. On one occasion, while he 
was working near the house, he saw a flock 
of geese directly over his head. Stepping 
into the house, he took his gun and from 
the door fired into the flock, bringing down 
his goose, which fell inside the doorway, he 
being compelled to step aside to keep from 
being hit. Deer was also very plentiful, 
and an old hunter, Wooster Y. Ives, with 



148 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



whom Mr. Kni^^ht was intimate, estimated 
that he had killed ei^'ht hundred deer in 
Whiteside and Carroll counties. 

Mr. Knight has ever been of a retiring 
disposition, refusing all political honors, 
preferring to give his time to his own private 
affairs. In early life he was a Whig, while 
he was, in sentiment, always an abolitionist. 
From the time of the organization of the 
Republican party up to within a few years 
he gave allegiance to that party. Being a 
strong temperance man, for the last ten 
3''ears he has given his ballot and influence 
to the Prohibition party. He is not a mem- 
ber of any church, but is a believer in the 
Christian religion as promulgated by its 
founder. 

To Charles C. and Elizabeth Knight 
five children were born, two of whom died 
ill infancy. John Henry, born February 2, 
iS5i,died March 25, 1853. Mary Adelia, 
born June 24, 1857, died March 2, 1863. 
Elizabeth, born January 9, 1849, married 
Gabriel Heckerman, who, dying, she later 
married Charles Flanders, and they now 
reside in Clinton, Iowa. John E. is now 
the owner of the old homestead, and is en- 
gaged in farming and stock raising. Miriam 
Amanda is now the wife of Rev. James 
Willis, a farmer of York county, Nebraska. 
The mother of these children, who was 
born May 15, 1S29, in Canada, died Sep- 
tember 26, 1883. 

For his second wife Mr. Knight in 1888 
married Mrs. Nancy Walkup, iicc Randall, 
widow of John Walkup, and a native of 
Ohio. By her first husband, she was the 
the mother of three sons and one daughter, 
who yet tnake their home in Union Grove 
township, which was the home of their par- 
ents. By her union with Mr. Knight one 
son was born, Charles C, Jr., who was 



born September 22, 1889, and who died 
died September 12, 1897. 

.Almost forty-nine years after Mr. Knight 
left his native state, and when he had be- 
come a prosperous man and owed no man a 
cent, he conchided to return to the scenes 
of his childhood, visiting relatives and 
friends. Putting one hundred dollars in his 
pocket, he started back on the proposed 
visit, and it is needless to say that he had a 
good time. For the past ten years he has 
lived a retired life, having sold his farm to 
his son, John E., but retaining a life lease 
in the home. He is one of the oldest and 
most respected of the citizens of \\'hitcside 
county, which has now been his home since 
April 8, 1840, almost si.xty years. An al- 
most unbroken wilderness on his arrival 
here, he has lived to see the county become 
one of the best in all the state, with a happy 
and prosperous people. He has contributed 
his full share to the development of the 
country and the building up of a Christian 
civilization. The old house in which he 
moved with his young bride is still standing, 
but changed with time. Time has also left 
its impress on his features, but his heart is 
yet young, and betakes the greatest interest 
in the affairs of the day. 



|\/IRS. SUSANNA R. DAVIS, widow of 
i V 1 Gabriel Davis, is one of the honored 
pioneers of Sterling, and none of our citi- 
zens are better entitled to a place in the 
annals of Whiteside county. Both she and 
her husband have been noted for their 
public spirit and for the genuine interest 
which they ever have displayed in every- 
thing pertaining to the progress and improve- 
ment of Sterling and vicinity. 

Gabriel Davis was born in 1803, in 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



149 



Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, his parent3 
being Archibald and Julia A. (Ander- 
son) Davis, who were of Welsh descent. 
The early years of Gabriel Davis were 
quietly passed in the Keystone state, and 
for a score of years subsequent to his inar- 
ria^e he was actively engaged in merchan- 
dising in New Holland, Pennsylvania. 
Integrity and upright methods were pur- 
sued by him at all times, and prosperity 
crowned his efforts to obtain a competence. 
In 1856, he removed to Sterling, with his 
family, and continued to dwell here until 
called to his heavenly mansion. Soon after 
his arrival here, he purchased four hundred 
acres of fine farm land, which he leased to 
responsible parties, and derived a good in- 
come from this source alone. In order to 
afford his children good educational advan- 
tages he located in the town, with whose 
interests he was actively identified until he 
was laid low with a stroke of paralysis. Few 
citizens of Sterling were better known or 
more genuinely esteemed, and when, in 
1880, he was summoned to his reward, the 
public deeply deplored his loss, realizing 
that not soon would his place in the 
community be adequately filled. 

Though he was sincere and faithful in 
all of his relations in life, it was in the 
domestic circle that his virtues shown forth 
undimmed brightness. Sixty-four years ago, 
on the 3rd of November, 1835, a marriage 
ceremonj', performed by I^ishop White, of 
the Episcopal church, in Philadelphia, 
united the destinies of Gabriel Davis and 
Susanna Diller. She is a daughter of 
Jonathan and .\nn (Weaver) Diller, natives 
of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and had 
been several generations of their respective 
families. Mrs. Davis, who was born in 
.Lancaster county, in July, 1815, was the 



second in order of birth of her parents' six 
children. Her elder brother, Weaver, and 
next younger brother, Isaac R., have passed 
to the silent land, as also has her sister Ma- 
ria, who was the wife of R. F. Ruth. Ro- 
land W. is a pioneer in the drug business 
at Springfield, Illinois, and Anna E., the 
youngest of the family, is the wife of the 
well known banker, Augustus Ayres, of 
Jacksonville, Illinois. After the death of 
Jonathan Diller his widow became the wife 
of Morgan L. Reese, and the mother of two 
daughters, Sarah and Fanny, both of whom 
survive. - 

To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Davis 
seven children were born, William W., of 
Sterling, is married and has two children, 
John and Susanna. He is a writer of con- 
siderable ability, and is employed as a cor- 
respondent by several newspapers and jour- 
nals of note. Julia B. , widow of Levi A. 
Diller, has three children, Horace E., 
Susan D. and Anna E. Susan D. married 
George H. Durling and has four sons: Har- 
old, Charles, Paul and George H., Jr. An- 
na E. Diller resides with Mrs. Davis. 
Gabiiel Hervey Davis is unmarried and lives 
with his venerable mother, cheering her de- 
clining years. Isaac N., the next son, died 
when twenty years old, just at the time 
when a most ])romising future lay before 
him. E. Diller, a dry-goods merchant of 
Sterling, is married and has three daughters, 
Maude, Helen and Grace. Henry L. , un- 
married, is still living at the old homestead 
with his mother. Charles A., a hardware 
merchant of this citj', married Mrs. Rebecca 
Mack, and like his elder brothers, is ranked 
among the enterprising, progressive citizens 
of the place. 

In youth, Gabriel Davis and wife were 
confirmed in the Episcopal church by Bishop 



ISO 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Potter, and dming their early years were 
actively associated with the work of that 
denomination. Their lives have been noble, 
and patterned after that of the Master 
whom they have followed. Quiet and unas- 
suming, they have delighted in aiding those 
in need, and have given liberally to suffer- 
ing humanity and worthy causes. 



CYRUS H. WAITE is one of Prophets- 
town's most esteemed citizens, who 
was for many years prominently identified 
with the business interests of this locality, 
but is now living a retired life. A native of 
Grand Isle county, Vermont, he was born 
in the shadows of the Green mountains, July 
Y 28, 1830, and is a son of Downer and Al- 
' mira (Hillyard) Waite, who were born in 
the same house oh~a farm in Grand Isle 
county. There the birth of a daughter also 
occurred. The father was born July 8, 
1804, and was a son of Gardner Waite, a 
native of Providence, Rhode Island, and a 
grandson of Luther Waite, a native of 
Wales. The last named had fourteen sons, 
twelve of whom were soldiers of the Revo- 
lutionary war, and two were wounded and 
crippled for life in the battle of Bunker 
Hill. Our subject's maternal grandfather. 
Miner Hillyard, was one of the defenders of 
the country during the war of 1812. From 
Rhode Island, Gardner Waite, the paternal 
grandfather, removed to Highgate, Vermont, 
where he followed the occupation of farm- 
ing and reared his family. The parents of 
our subject continued to reside in Vermont 
until after the birth of three of their chil- 
dren, and then removed to St. Lawrence 
county. New York, where the father became 
the owner of a valuable farm of si.x hundred 
acres. There he died March 10, 18S5, at 



the age of eighty-one years, and his wife 
passed away in 1873, at the age of sixty-five 
years. 

Our subject is the oldest of the ten chil- 
dren, five sons and five daughters, born to 
this worthy couple, all of whom reached 
years of maturity, and three sons and three 
daughters are still living. William is a resi- 
dent of Erie, Illinois; Byron lives near Kan- 
sas City, Missouri; Cynthia is now deceased; 
Melvina is the wife of Silas Duvall, who 
lives on the St. Lawrence river in St. Law- 
rence county. New York; Sally married John 
Carney and both are now deceased; Almon 
and Forest are also deceased; Hannah is 
the wife of Follet Johnson, a farmer of St. 
Lawrence county. New York; and Saman- 
tha is the wife of John Hickcock, of the 
same county. 

Cyrus H. Waite grew to manhood in 
St. Lawrence county. New York, and 
as he received but limited school advan- 
tages, he is almost wholly self-educated. 
He assisted his father in the operation of 
the home farm until twenty-four years of 
age, and then came west, arriving in Morri- 
son, Illinois, September 24, 1854, on the 
first passenger train running from Sterling 
to that place. The following day he came 
to Prophetstown, where he joined a few 
Vermont friends, and here he worked at the 
carpenter's trade for twenty-two years, 
many of the residences and barns through- 
out this part of the county showing his 
architectural skill and handiwork. His first 
purchase of land consisted of two hundred 
and forty acres in Portland township, which 
he bought in partnership with his brother 
William, and in 1863 he located thereon. 
Two years later, however, he sold that 
place and purchased other land, owning at 
different times four farms, which he oper- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



151 



ated in connection with work at his trade 
for fortj'-four years. He is still the owner 
of a fine farm of two hundred and forty 
acres, which is now carried on by his son- 
in-law, Clayton Seely, while he lives retired 
in Frophetstown, enjoying;' that rest which 
should always follow a useful and honorable 
career. 

In this county, Mr. Waite was married, 
April 13, 1855, to Miss Catherine Noble, a 
native of St. Lawrence county. New York, 
who was reared and educated in the same 
neighborhood as our subject. She died on 
the home farm December 11, 1891, and 
was laid to rest in the Prophetstown ceme- 
tery. To Mr. and Mrs. Waite were born 
eleven children, eight sons and three daugh- 
ters, namely: Myra, wife of F. W. 
Reynolds, of Prophetstown; Celia, wife of 
CharlesTurner, of the same place; Douglas, 
who holds a business position in Prophets- 
town; Downer, a carpenter of that place; 
I). Clinton, a lawyer and farmer of White- 
side county; Fred, also a farmer of this 
county; Almon, who holds a business posi- 
tion in Chicago; H. H., a lawyer of Proph- 
etstown; Zelia, wife of Clayton Seeley, of 
Portland township; William, who holds a 
business position in Chicago; and Luther, 
who is now attending school in \'alparaiso, 
Indiana. Mr. Waite also has si.\ grandchil- 
dren: Kate and Gordon Reynolds; Richard 
and Alniira Turner; and Pearl and Henry 
Waite, children of D. Clinton. 

Originally Mr. Waite was a Jeffersonian 
Democrat in politics, and in 1 S60 supported 
Stephen A. Douglas,, the "Little Giant," 
for the presidency, but in 1864 voted for 
Abraham Lincoln, and has since been an 
ardent Republican. He has never sought 
office, but was elected and served for one 
term as supervisor of his township, and as 



a stanch friend of our public schools, he 
most efficiently served as a member of the 
school board for several years, being clerk 
and president of the district a part of the 
time. He was initiated in Spring Hill 
lodge, F. & A. M., in January, 1864, and 
joined the Prophetstown chapter, R. A. M., 
about 1878. For many years he has been 
an active and consistent member of the 
Methodist Episcopal church, and for about 
thirty years had served on the official 
board and as superintendent of the Sunday 
school. His honorable, upright life has 
gained forjiim the confidence and high re- 
gard of all with whom he has come in con- 
tact either in public or private life, and he 
has a host of warm personal friends through- 
out his adopted county. 



GEORGE W. OLMSTED. The natural 
advantages of this section attracted at 
an early day a superior class of settlers, 
thrifty, industrious, progressive and law- 
abiding, whose influence gave permanent 
direction to the development of the local- 
ity. Among the worthy pioneers of White- 
side county the Olmsted family hold a 
prominent place, and the results of the labor 
and self-denial of those past generations is 
manifest in the comfortable homes and 
fertile, well-arranged farms which we now 
find here. 

George W. Olmsted is a native of this 
comity, born in Prophetstown township, 
September 9, 1838, and is a son of Oliver 
Olmsted, who was born and reared in 
New York, but in 1835, when a young man, 
he came to Illinois and took up a claim of 
one hundred and twenty acres in Prophets- 
tov\n township, Whiteside county. Later 
he entered the land and transformed it into 



152 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



a fine farm. He prospered in his new 
home and became the owner of five hundred 
acres of vaUiable and well improved land. 
His last days were spent in retirement from 
active life in Prophetstown, where he also 
owned property. In this county he mar- 
ried Electa Hunt, a native of New York, 
and a representative of one of our pioneer 
families. He died in Prophetstown in 
1884, and she passed away at the home of 
her son in Council Bluffs, Iowa, about 
1892. 

Our subject is the oldest of their eight 
children, seven sons and one daughter, the 
others beings as follows: Oscar, now a 
farmer of Sumner county, Kansas; John 
W. , a resident of Furnace county, Ne- 
braska; Alonzo, who was a member of the 
Ninth Illinois Cavalry during the Civil war 
and died of camp fever near Atlanta; Rosal- 
tha, a stenographer of St. Louis; David R., 
a gardener and fruit grower of Council 
Bluffs, Iowa; William E., a resident of 
Seattle, Washington, who has recently re- 
turned from the Ivlondike after having met 
with good success in the gold fields; and 
one son who died in infancy. 

Mr. Olmstead, of this review, was reared 
in this county and educated in common and 
select schools. Prompted by a spirit of 
patriotism, he enlisted in October, 1861, in 
Company L, Ninth Illinois Cavalry, which 
was assigned to the Army of the Tennessee, 
and he participated in a number of impor- 
tant engagements under the command of 
General A. J. Smith. He was first under 
fire during a skirmish in Arkansas, and later 
took part in the battles of Guntown; Jack- 
son, Mississippi; Black river bridge, which 
structure he helped to burn; and Holly 
Springs; Tupelo; Corinth and luka. In the 
command of A. J.Smith he was all through 



the Mississippi campaign, and in a raid at 
Hurricane creek he was wounded August i r, 
1864, losing the two middle fingers of his 
right hand by a gunshot. Thus permanently 
disabled he was sent to a hospital in 
Memphis, and from there returned home. 
He was mustered out and honorably dis- 
charged at Springfield, in the fall of 1864. 

The following winter Mr. Olmstead en- 
gaged in teaching, and for eleven years he 
successfully followed that profession through 
the winter months, while during the summer 
season he engaged in farming. In 1866 he 
removed to Kossuth county, Iowa, where he 
purchased a tract of raw land and engaged 
in farming for three or four years. He then 
returned to Whiteside county, Illinois, 
and in 1S74 bought an interest in an 
elevator in Prophetstown, where he was 
engaged in the grain and stock business 
for twenty years as one of its most active, 
enterprising and progressive business men. 
After selling out his business he bought a 
well-improved farm of one hundred and 
si.xty acres one mile from Prophetstown, 
and he still owns a fine farm of four hundred 
acres in I-Cossuth county, Iowa, besides a 
small place within the corporate limits of 
Prophetstown. He devotes a part of his 
time to gardening and looking after his farm, 
but is now practically living retired. 

Mr. Olmstead was first married in 
Prophetstown, in the spring of 1866, to 
Miss Fanny Greene, a sister of John J. 
Greene, and a native of New York, who 
came to this county during childhood. She 
died in 1S86, leavingthree children, namely: 
Jessie, wife of C. J. Warner, a banker of 
Prophetstown; R. W. , at home; and Stew- 
art E., a member of the Thirty-second 
United States Infantry. In Piano, Illinois, 
in 1888, Mr. Olmstead was again married, 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



153 



his second union being with Miss Mary 
Kice, a well-educated lady and successful 
music teacher, who was born and reared in 
Massachusetts. To them have been born 
four children: Vincent, Hubert, Irene and 
Burnett. 

Since casting his first presidential ballot 
for Abraham Lincoln, in i860, Mr. Olmsted 
has been an ardent supporter of the Repub- 
lican party, but has never been a politician 
in the sense of office seeking. He has been 
a member of the school board here, and 
while a resident of Iowa served on the 
board of supervisors for one term. He and 
his wife are active members of the Method- 
ist Episcopal church, with which he has 
been officially connected for a quarter of a 
century, and he has also served as superin- 
tendent of the Sunday school, while his wife 
has been a teacher in the same. Frater- 
nally he holds membership in the Grand 
Army Post of Prophetstown. Although he 
started out in life for himself in limited cir- 
cumstances, he has by his well-directed and 
energetic efforts and good business ability 
become the passessor of a handsome compe- 
tence and his honorable, straightforward 
course has gained for him many friends who 
appreciate his sterling worth and many ex- 
cellencies of character. 



JAMES H. BAIKD, a well-known resi- 
dent of Prophetstown, is the possessor 
of a handsome property which now enables 
him to spend his years in the pleasurable 
enjoyment of his accumulations. The rec- 
ord of his life, previous to 1898, is that of 
an active, enterprising, methodical and sa- 
gacious business man, who bent his ener- 
gies to the honorable acquirements of a 
9 



comfortable competence for himself and 
and family. 

Mr. Baird was born in Perry count}', 
Ohio, January 7, 1834, and is a son of 
James Baird, whose birth occurred in Wash- 
ington county, Pennsylvania, in 1793. The 
paternal grandfather, who bore the name 
of Hugh, was born in Ireland of Scotch- 
Irish ancestry, and was one of the first set- 
tlers of Washington county, Pennsylvania, 
where his death occurred. Later, about 
I 8 10, his widow, with her family, removed 
to Perry county, Ohio. There the father 
of our subject wedded Miss Mary Wilson, 
who was also born in Washington county, 
Pennsylvania, in 1794, and was of Scotch- 
Irish descent. Her father, John Wilson, 
came to the new world in 1778, and about 
1 8 10 removed to Perry county, Ohio. She 
was a sister of Colonel R. L. Wilson, a 
prominent citizen of Sterling, Illinois, who 
was a paymaster in the army during the 
Civil war. The father of our subject be- 
came the owner of a good farm in Perry 
county, Ohio, where he died in 1839, at 
about the age of forty-six years. His wife 
survived him some \ears and reared their 
family. There were eight children, three 
sons and five daughters, all of whom reached 
man and womanhood, but one three are 
now living: James H., our subject; Samuel 
J., a fruit grower of San Diego, California; 
and Mrs. Jane Upson, a widov^', who now 
lives with our subject. 

Mr. Baird, of this review, passed his 
boyhood and youth in his native county, 
where he attended the common schools, and 
for one term he engaged in teaching. At 
the age of nineteen he took charge of the 
home farm and business of the estate, and 
successfully carried on the place for twelve 
vears. In the meantime he came to White- 



154 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



side county, Illinois, where he was married. 
May 24, 1864, to Miss Martha Brown, who 
was born, reared and educated in Perry 
county, Ohio, of which county her father, 
Isaac Brown, was a pioneer. 

The next year after his marriage, Mr. 
Baird removed to this countj', where he 
had previously purchased three hundred 
and eighty acres of partially improved 
land, on which a good house had been built 
and an orchard set out. To the further im- 
provement and cultivation of his place he 
at once devoted his energies, and later e.\- 
tended the boundaries of his farm, now own- 
ing four hundred and fifty acres of valuable 
and highly productive land all in one body. 
He remodeled the residence, built one of 
the best barns in the conuty and converted 
the place into a most desirable farm supplied 
with all the latest improvements. He suc- 
cessfully carried on general farming and 
stock raising until 1898, when he rented his 
farm and moved to Prophetstown, where he 
purchased one of the best residences in the 
place, it being a model of neatness and com- 
fort. 

Mr. and Mrs. Baird are the parents of 
five children, namely: Ida, wife of Prof. 
J. G. Skinner, a teacher in the Chicago 
schools, by whom she has one child, Donald 
Baird; Zella, MaryE., Jessie and Emma, 
who are well-educated young ladies — grad- 
uates of the Prophetstown high school — 
residing at home. 

Politically Mr. Baird has been a life-long 
Democrat and supporter of Jeffersonian 
principles. He cast his first presidential 
vote for James Buchanan in 1856, and has 
ever taken an active interest in political 
affairs. For almost twenty years he served 
as township trustee; was school director 
several years, and also president and secre- 



tary of the board. He was one of the 
originators of and helped to organize the old 
drainage board, was elected one of the com- 
missioners and made secretary of the board, 
which capacity he has since most creditably 
served. This board has been the means of 
opening up and developing a large tract of 
land in this county, and has made about 
forty miles of ditches, the main ditch being 
twenty miles in length and extending from 
the Rock to the Green river. Religiously 
Mr. Baird, his wife and daughters are mem- 
bers of the Congregational church of 
Prophetstown, and as a family they are 
highly respected and esteemed by all who 
know them. His life accords an example 
to the young in that he commenced life 
without capital, but having a determination 
to succeed he industriously applied himself 
until he is now the possessor of a handsome 
property. After a useful and honorable 
career he can well afford to lay aside all 
business cares and spend his last years in 
ease and retirement. 



EDMUND BOWMAN. One of the pio- 
neer business men of Sterling is Ed- 
mund Bowman, now retired from commer- 
cial activities and quietly enjoying the in- 
come which he accumulated in former years. 
He has many interesting reminiscences of 
early days in this county, and well remem- 
bers Chicago as a small city of fifty thou- 
sand souls, as a larger town than Sterling, 
and Rock Falls when there was but one 
house in the place. 

He is a native of Strasburg, Pennsyl- 
vania, born October 14, 1823. His father 
was Joseph Bowman, a life-long resident of 
the Keystone state, and his mother bore the 
name of Ann Brewer in her girlhood. They 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



155 



reared eight children to maturity, and lost 
five little ones. The father attained the ex- 
treme age of ninety-three years, while the 
mother lived to be eighty four years old. 
He was a clock manufacturer, making the 
celebrated old time-pieces now known as the 
" grandfather's clocks. " Only one of this 
kind is owned at present in Sterling, Mr. Le 
Fevre being the fortunate possessor of the 
antiquit}'. 

Edmund Bowman received a common- 
school education in his native place, and 
early learned his father's business. His 
first regular employment was with a jeweler 
at Kent Square, Chester county, and for a 
few years he worked as a journeyman in 
different towns in the Keystone state. In 
1S53, he came to Sterling, passing through 
Chicago, which still bore little promise of 
its great future. After spending several 
years here in the employ of local jewelers, 
he opened a small shop on his own account, 
and conducted a gradually growing business 
until iSg3, when he sold out his large and 
well equipped store, building and stock. 
He then invested a portion of the proceeds 
in a desirable piece of residence propertj' on 
east Third street, and has devoted consid- 
erable attention to beautifying his home. 
He is one of the few remaining pioneers of 
the early '50s, and is justly entitled to the 
high place which he occupies in the esteem 
of his fellow citizens, for he has sought, in 
every possible manner, to promote the wel- 
fare of Sterling, and has been very instru- 
mental in making it a beautiful, progressive 
modern city. 

In 1856, Mr. Bowman married Maria 
P. Adams, whose birth had occurred in this 
county twenty years previously. Her par- 
ents. Van J. and Mary (Ritchie) Adams, 
natives of Ohio, were among the very ear- 



liest settlers in this region, as they located 
on a farm near the Lee county border, in 
1834. There they spent the remainder of 
their busy, useful lives, being respected and 
loved by all who knew them. Of their five 
children, two are living to-day: Mrs. Bow- 
man and her brother, Robert Adams, of 
Michigan. Si.x children blessed the marriage 
of Mr. and Mrs. Bowman; One died in in- 
fancy; Frank, who is married and has two 
children, is employed in the law office of 
Mr. Green; Grant J., unmarried, is engaged 
in real estate and mining operations at 
Spokane Falls, Washington; Edward J. is a 
teller in the bank at Dillon, Montana, and 
is married; Jennie, who has unusual musical 
ability, resides at home; and Louise, who 
pursued a two-3'ears course of studj-at Lake 
Forest Seminary, also is at home. Mrs. 
Bowman is a member of the Congregational 
church, and is active in various religious and 
benevolent enterprises. Mr. Bowman was 
prominent in public affairs, but of late years 
has led a inore quiet life. Nevertheless, he 
does his entire duty as a citizen, and politic- 
ally, he is affiliated with the Republican 
party. 

WILLIAM BLACKMER, residing on 
section 5, Tampico township, is one 
of its most enterprising farmers and stock 
raisers, and has been a resident of the 
county since kSG/, since which time he has 
opened up a fine farm and done much for 
the general welfare of his township and 
county. He was born in Jefferson county, 
New York, February 10, 1847, and is the 
son of Hazard and Polly (Pratt) Blackmer. 
His mother dying when he was but a child, 
he was taken by Martin W. Wright and 
wife, of Jefferson county, New York, with 
whom he found a home for ten years. For 



IS6 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



that worthy couple he has always had a warm 
spot in his heart for the kindly interest they 
took in a poor orphan boy. It was with 
great pleasure in 1896 that in company 
with his wife he made a visit to the aged 
couple and spent a delightful time, recall- 
ing his early experience in life. 

Mr. Blackmer was reared to farm life, 
and has been actively engaged in agricult- 
ural pursuits, with the exception of a short 
time spent in Prophetstown, from early 
childhood to the present time. His educa- 
tion was limited to the common schools, 
and the knowledge now possessed has 
mostly been acquired since arriving at 
man's estate. In his youth the war for the 
Union was in progress, and his blood was 
stirred with patriotic ardor. On the loth 
of September, 1864, when but seventeen 
years old, he enlisted in Company H, One 
Hundred and Eighty-sixth New York Vol- 
unteer Infantry, and with his regiment 
joined the Army of the Potomac, his first 
engagement being at Hatchie's Run. Later 
he was in the battle of Petersburg, where 
he was wounded in the left side by a frag- 
ment of shell, and for two weeks following 
was in the field hospital. Rejoining his 
regiment he continued with it in active 
service until the close of the war, being 
honorably discharged June 14, 1865. 

Returning to his home in Jefferson 
county. New York, Mr. Blackmer remained 
there two years, engaged in farm labor, and 
then came to Whiteside county, Illinois, 
where he has since made his home. On 
his arrival he commenced work at odd jobs 
by the day, and the winter following he 
spent in chopping cord wood in the Dutch 
bottoms, clearing off a small tract of land 
which he had purchased the previous year. 
The next season he was employed by the 



month, after which he rented land which he 
cultivated until his marriage. 

On the 31st July, 1870, Mr. Blackmer 
was united in marriage with Miss Louisa 
France, a native of Ohio, and daughter of 
Solomon and Margaret (Willtrout) France, 
who were also natives of Ohio, where their 
marriage occurred. From Ohio they came 
to Whiteside county in 1854, settling first 
in Erie township, from which township they 
moved to Fenton township, and still later 
to Tampico township, becoming one of the 
pioneers of the latter township. To Mr. 
and Mrs. Blackmer eight children have 
been born, as follows: Lillie V., now the 
wife of Abner Bryson, a farmer of Tampico 
township; William, married and engaged in 
farming in Tampico township; Myrtle, wife 
of William Clark, of Prophetstown town- 
ship; Nellie, wife of Charles Meltzer, of 
Walnut, Illinois; Charles, Clifford, Jennie 
and Roy, at home. 

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Black- 
mer settled on the farm where they now re- 
side, Mr. Blackmer having purchased one 
hundred and eighty-six acres of raw swamp 
land, which he commenced to improve. He 
first built a small, rough board house in which 
the family lived while he was making further 
improvements on the place. Ditches had to 
be dug, the land tiled and drained, and 
other changes made, all of which required 
time and means. The means for doing the 
work had to come off the place, but in due 
time the old board house gave place to a 
more substantial dwelling, barns and out- 
buildings were erected and comfort reigned. 
On that farm the children were born, and 
there he lived until 1893, when he moved 
with his family to Prophetstown, in order to 
give his children the advantages of the 
schools of the place. From the Prophets- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



157 



town schools two of his daughters gradu- 
ated with honors. In 1897 he returned to 
the farm and resumed tlie life with which 
he had become familiar through long years 
of toil. 

Politically Mr. Blackmer is a stanch 
and life-long Republican, having cast his 
first presidential vote in 1 S68 for U. S. 
Grant, since which time he has never failed 
to vote fur the nominee of the party for that 
high and e.xalted office. While taking an 
active interest in politics he never cared for 
official life, but by reason of the interest he 
has always had in the public schools he 
served for about twenty-five years on the 
school board, the greater part of the time 
serving as clerk of the board. Fraternally 
he is a member of Prophetstown post, 
G. A. R. 

For thirty-two years Mr. Blackmer has 
been a resident of Whiteside county. On 
his arrival the southeastern part of the 
county was but little improved, being much 
of it swamp land. These lands have since 
been well drained, and are now among the 
most productive in the count}'. He com- 
menced life here with but ver\' little means, 
but having the determination to succeed he 
went to work, and working early and late, 
and with the assistance of his wife, and 
later by his children, as they grew to mature 
years, he has a valuable property, and is in 
a position to enjoy life. His ac(]uaintances 
are many in the county, and by all he is 
heUl in high esteem. 



M.\RTIN V. 
most eslec 



CARD, one of Morrison's 
sleemed citizens, was for sev- 
eral years prominently identified with the 
agricultural interests of Whiteside county, 
but is now living retired, enjoying the fruits 



of former toil at his beautiful home on Grove 
street. He was born in New Ashford, Berk- 
shire county, Massachusetts, August 12, 
1 84 1, a son of James and Sylvania (Scovell) 
Card and grandson of James Card, Sr. , a 
Revolutionary soldier. The father was 
born in Rhode Island, and when a young 
man removed to Massachusetts, having in- 
herited a farm in New Ashford. There he 
was married, and later he removed to North 
Adams, the same state, where he followed 
the blacksmith's trade on his own account. 
He died at that place in i860, his wife sev- 
eral years later. Ten children were born 
to them, but one died at the age of eight 
months. The father attended and supported 
the Baptist church, of which his wife was a 
faithful member. 

After completing his education, Martin 
V. Card entered the Arnold Cotton Mills, at 
North Adams, as bobbin boy, and steadily 
worked his way upward until he had charge 
of the mill as superintendent, having about 
one hundred and forty hands working under 
him. In the meantime the Civil war broke 
out, and he enlisted June 21, 1861, in Com- 
pany I, Tenth Massachusetts Volunteer In- 
fantry, which was one of the first three- 
years regiments to enter the service. They 
were first sent to Washington, D. C. , where 
they were employed in building fortifications 
during the winter, and were then ordered 
to Fortress Monroe. They took jiart in the 
Peninsular campaign of 1862, their first en- 
gagement being the battle of Williamsburg, 
after which they proceeded within four 
miles of Richmond. In the battle of Fair 
Oaks they lost their colonel, all of the line 
officers and fifty per cent, of the men, but 
fortunately, Mr. Card, who was serving as 
corporal, escaped unwounded. In his next 
battle, that of Malvern Hill, he was injured. 



158 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



and first sent to the hospital at Fortress 
Monroe and later to Alexandria. He re- 
joined his regiment the day before the bat- 
tle of Antietam, in which engagement he 
took part, and then, with his command, 
followed Lee to Warrington, Virginia, where 
they camped during the winter of 1S62-3. 
The latter part of the winter the army was 
at Falmouth, and during the campaign of 
the following year took part in the battle of 
Fredericksburg. Mr. Card was granted a 
furlough on account of distinguished service 
at Malvern Hill, and prior to the battle of 
the Wilderness was made sergeant. In the 
latter engagement he was seriously wounded. 
After lying in the field hospital near Fred- 
ericksburg for eight da\s he was sent to 
Judiciary Square hospital, Washington, 
D. C, where he arrived May 20, 1864, and 
through the influence of Senator Dawes, 
then representative from North Adams, he 
was given a furlough. He was finally mus- 
tered out at a hospital in Boston, October 
2, 1864, but was obliged to go on crutches 
for over a year. 

As soon as able Mr. Card re-entered the 
mill as second hand, and was later made 
overseer in charge of the same, which posi- 
tion he satisfactorily filled until March 15, 
1 87 1. He was married May i, 1866, to 
Miss Frances Ives, daughter of David Ives, 
one of the early settlers of North Adams, 
who assisted in building the first Methodist 
Episcopal church of that place. Three 
children were born of this union: Thomas, 
who has been engaged in the drug business 
in Chicago for ten years; Effie, wife of Fred 
Adams, of North Adams, Massachusetts; and 
Fannie, who is with her father. While 
visiting in North Adams, the wife and 
mother died in 1886, in the same room 
where she was born and married. 



With his wife and two children, Mr. 
Card came to Whiteside county, Illinois, in 
1 87 1, and turned his attention to agricult- 
ural pursuits, owning and operating a fine 
farm of two hundred and forty acres, upon 
which he made many improvements. In 
connection with general farming he also im- 
ported Holstein cattle, giving special atten- 
tion to stock raising. He met with e.xcel- 
lent success in his farming operations, but 
now rents his farm and lives retired from 
active labor. In March, 1894, he removed 
to Morrison, where he built an elegant home 
on West Grove street, which is beautifully 
located in grounds covering an acre and a 
half. 

On the 14th of September, 1S87, Mr. 
Card was united in marriage with Miss Car- 
rie S. Teller, a native of Granger, Allegany 
county. New York, svho came with her fam- 
ily to Morrison in 1862. She is a sister of 
Senator Henry M. Teller, of Colorado. Mr. 
and Mrs. Card are active and prominent 
members of the Methodist Episcopal church, 
of which he is trustee and treasurer and has 
been superintendent of the Sunday school. 
Politically he is a Republican, and socially 
is a member of Alpheus Clarke post, G. A. 
R. , of which he is past commander and 
which he has represented a number of times 
in the state lodge and also in the national 
encampment held at Indianapolis in 1894. 
He is well-known and highly respected, and 
justly merits the regard in which he is held. 



IRA WILLSEY, the well-known and effi- 
1 cient superintendent of the Whiteside 
county poor farm in Mount Pleasant town- 
snip, was born in Schoharie county. New 
York, January 27, 1841, and is a son of 
David and Margaret (Vrooman) Willsey, also 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



159 



natives of that state. The maternal grand- 
father was Jacob Vrooman, who was of 
Holland origin and a farmer by occupation. 
He died in New York before the birth of 
our subject. The paternal grandfather, 
Abrain Willsey, was also a native of New 
York, but of English extraction, and was a 
soldier of the war of 18 12. He was born in 
Albany county and died in Schoharie c jun- 
ty, at the advanced age of ninety-two years, 
while his wife died at the age of eighty- 
four. All of their nine children were liv- 
ing at the time of their deaths. They were 
David, Henry, Ander, Elias, John, Will- 
iam, Johnjost, Phcebe and Eliza Jane. 
Henry and Andrew are still living at the 
age of ninety-two and ninety years respect- 
ively, and also the four youngest of their 
family. Their family owned property in 
New York state and followed farming quite 
extensively. In early life David Willsey, 
father of our subject, learned the black- 
smith's trade, at which he worked for about 
twenty-five years, and then engaged in farm- 
ing in Schoharie county until his death, 
which occurred in 1871. His wife died in 
1890, at the age of eighty-five years. To 
them were born eleven children, all of whom 
reached man and womanhood, namely: 
Mary, now deceased, was the wife of Peter 
Severson, still a resident of New York; 
William H. is a banker and merchant of Owa- 
tonna, Steele county, Minnesota; George 
died at the age of twenty-two years; John 
went to California in early days, since which 
time nothing has been heard of him; Har- 
riet married a Mr. Wilber, now deceased, 
and she died at the age of thirty years; 
Andrew is a contractor and builder of 
bridges residing in Otsego county. New 
York; Ira, our subject, is ne.xt in order of 
birth; James is a farmer of Otsego county, 



New York; Frances is the wife of Thomas 
Hayes, of New York state; Ella is the wife 
of Joseph Bradley, of Fairfield, Iowa; and 
David is a farmer and blacksmith of Her- 
kimer county, New York. 

In the county of his nativity our subject 
grew to manhood, and was provided with a 
common-school education. After leaving 
school he worked for awhile at the carpen- 
ter's trade, at farming and other occupa- 
tions until he attained his majorit}', and 
then went to Cheshire, Berkshire county, 
Massachusetts, where he was foreman of a 
lumber yard for about three years and also 
buyer a part of the time. 

While there Mr. \Villsey was married, 
|uly 29, 1864, to Miss Orinda Brown, a na- 
tive of Massachusetts, as were also her par- 
ents, John M. and Zilpha Brown. Her 
father was a mason, carpenter and wheel- 
wright, one of the best mechanics of the 
east in his day. He is still living in Ches- 
hire — a hale and hearty old man of ninety 
years. The wife and mother died in 1871. 
Mr. and Mrs. Willsey have three children: 
Frank B., who married Winifred Dickison, 
is a graduate of the Iowa University at 
Iowa City, and is now engaged in the prac- 
tice of medicine at West Branch, that state; 
Eugene E. is a graduate of the Chicago 
Northwestern Dental College, and is en- 
gaged in the practice of his profession in 
Argos, Indiana; and Margaret is the wife of 
Dr. Frank .\llen, of Shelby, Iowa. 

Mr. Willsey remained in Massachusetts 
about four years after his marriage, and 
then returned to Schoharie county. New 
York, where he continued to make his home 
for two years. Subsequently he spent some 
time in Minnesota and Wisconsin, and in 
1 87 1 came to Illinois, locating first in Wjso.x 
t ownship, Carroll county, where he engaged 



i6o 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



in farming; for ten years. At the end of 
that time lie came to Hopkins township, 
Whiteside county, where he followed the 
same pursuit until appointed to his present 
responsible position, that of superintendent 
of the poor farm, in March, 1899. He is 
performing his duties in a most commend- 
able and satisfactory manner. He was also 
a member of the school board for a number 
of years, and has always taken a great in- 
terest in educational matters. In politics 
he is thoroughly independent, preferring to 
vote for the man whom he considers best 
qualified to fill the office, regardless of 
party ties. Socially, he is a member of the 
Modern Woodmen of America at Sterling, 
and, religiously, belongs to the Baptist 
church of that place. 



NATHAN THOMPSON. Prominent 
among the energetic, far-seeing and 
successful business men of Whiteside coun- 
ty is the subject of this sketch who is now 
living retired in Prophetstown. His life 
history most happily illustrates what may be 
attained by faithful and continued effort in 
carrying out an honest purpose. Integrity, 
activity and energy have been the crowning 
points of his success, and his connection 
with various business enterprises and indus- 
tries have been of decided advantage to his 
section of the county, promoting its material 
welfare in no uncertain manner. 

Mr. Thompson was born in Galway, 
Saratoga county. New York, March 9, 1S22, 
and is a son of Dr. Nathan Thompson, who 
was born in the same county, in March, 
1778. The grandfather. Judge John Thomp- 
son, was born in Litchfield, Massachusetts, 
March 20, 1740, and was one of the first 



settlers of Saratoga county. New York. 
Tile family is of Scotch-Irish origin, and its 
founder in America located in Londonderry, 
New Hampshire. The father of our subject, 
who was a prominent phj'sician of his na- 
tive county, was married there to Miss Lucy 
Plumb, who was born in Connecticut and 
removed to Oneida county, New York, at 
an early day. To them were born six chil- 
dren, three sons and three daughters, name- 
ly: Emma, Mary, Charles, Martha, Nathan 
and Ralph, of whom our subject and his sis- 
ter Martha are now the only survivors. For 
a number of years she has spent the winter 
in Florida, while through the summer she 
makes her home with her brother and since 
his wife's death has had charge of his 
home. 

Nathan Thompson was reared on a farm 
ill his native county and received a good 
common-school education. In 1843 became 
to Illinois in company with two cousins, 
Robert and Isaac Seers, traveling by way 
of the Great Lakes to Milwaukee, and from 
there proceeding overland to Elgin. In 1845 
he came to Whiteside county, Illinois, and 
for two years operated a farm on the shares, 
which belonged to his cousin and is now 
within the corporate limits of Prophetstown. 
The following year he clerked in a store, 
where he received a practical business train- 
ing, and for one winter he operated a horse- 
power sawmill in Portland Grove. He was 
ne.xt employed in the plow works of Tuller, 
Dodge & Pitts, at Peru, and in 1852 started 
a store in Prophetstown under the firm name 
of N. Thompson & Company, carrying a 
general stock of merchandise. For his own 
use he erected a large store building, which 
is now used as an implement house, and for 
fifteen years he carried on operations as a 
merchant. In the meantime he invested 




NATHAN THOMPSON. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



163 



his capital in land and improved farms, and 
since disposing of his store has devoted his 
time to looking after his landed interests 
and stimulating industries by the loaning 
of money. He was one of the organizers of 
the First National Bank of Prophetstown.of 
which he has since been a stockholder, and 
was the first president of that financial in- 
stitution. He has been identified with 
various enterprises that have tended to 
advance the interests of his town and 
counyt, and gave his support toward build- 
ing the different railroads through the 
county. He has also been connected with 
the ditching enterprise, which has opened 
up some valuable farming land near Pro- 
phetstown. 

In 1867, Mr. Thompson was united in 
marriage with Mrs. Sarah J. Parrott, who 
was born, reared and educated in Vermont. 
She died in 1882, and was laid to rest in 
Prophetstown cemetery, where a beautiful 
monument has been erected to her memorj'. 
In political sentiment Mr. Thompson is a 
Jeffersonian Democrat, and cast his first 
presidential vote for James K. Polk. He 
has never had time nor inclination for pub- 
lic office, but has always faithfully discharged 
his duties of citizenship and has been untir- 
ing in his efforts to promote the public wel- 
fare. He came to this county without cap- 
ital, and through his own resources anil by 
his own energy and ability has worked his 
way upward until he is now the owner of a 
valuable estate, having over five hundred 
acres of well-improved farming land near 
Prophetstown besides his city property. As 
a citizen, he stands high in the esteem of 
his fellow men on account of his sterling 
worth an(l the active and prominent part he 
has taken in advancing the interests of his 
community. 



OLIVER E. FINCH, a prominent citizen 
of Fulton and the present assessor of 
that place, is a man whose success in life is 
due entirely to his own unaided efforts. 
His life has been one of industry and perse- 
verance, and the systematic and honorable 
business methods which he has followed 
have won him the support and confidence of 
many. 

Mr. Finch was born in Niagara county. 
New York, January 14, 1835, ^ son of John 
and Anna (Adams) Finch, the former a 
native of Orange county. New York, the 
latter of Salisbury, Connecticut. The pa- 
ternal grandfather, Jacob Finch, was also a 
native of the Empire state, and was a soldier 
of the Revolutionary war. He lived to be 
almost one hundred years of age. The 
maternal grandfather, Samuel Adams, also 
fought for American independence as a sol- 
dier of the Revolution. He was first cousin 
of President John Adams. 

The father of our subject was reared and 
educated in his native count}' and there con- 
tinued to make his home until after his mar- 
riage, his time being devoted to school teach- 
ing. In 1825, at the age of twenty-two 
years, he removed to Niagara county. New 
York, where he continued to follow the 
profession of teaching for a few years, and 
then worked at the carpenter's and mill- 
wright's trades. From New York, he moved 
to Jackson county, Michigan, where he died 
in 1852. He was quite prominent in public 
life; was a freesoil Democrat; and in 185 i 
was elected to the Michigan legislature. He 
died while serving in that capacity. He 
was also an active and prominent member 
of the Methodist Episcopal church. His 
wife survived him twenty years, and died in 
Jackson, Michigan. To them were born 
seven children, namely: John T. died in 



164 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



his native county — Niagara county, New 
York — in 1897. As a youth he enlisted in 
the Mexican war and remained in the service 
until hostilities ceased. Jacob, a soldier of 
the Civil war, went to California, in 1852, 
was successful in his mining operations, and 
died in Alameda county, that state. Mary 
is the wife of Nicholas Harden, of Jackson 
county, Michigan. Our subject is the next 
in order of birth. Isaac C. is also a veteran 
of the Civil war and is now a retired farmer 
of Jones county, Iowa. William H., de- 
ceased, was also one of the boys in blue, 
and was one of the victims of the Sultana 
explosion on the Mississippi river while re- 
turning home after having survived the 
dangers of battle field and two years in 
rebel prisons. Antoinette is the wife of 
John Pulver, of Almeda county, California. 
All of the sons endeavored to enlist in the 
Union service, but the eldest was rejected 
on account of disability. 

Our subject was a lad of fourteen years 
when the family removed to the wilds of 
Michigan, and was less than sixteen years 
of age when left fatherless. Going to 
Adrian, Michigan, he served a four years' 
apprenticeship to the baker's trade, and 
then, on the loth of April, 1854, at the age 
of nineteen }-ears, started for California, by 
way of Chicago, St. Louis and up the Mis- 
souri river to Lexington, Missouri, where he 
joined a party bound for the Pacific coast, 
none of whom he was then acquainted with. 
After four months of travel he reached the 
Sacramento valley, and from there went to 
Alameda county, where his brother, Jacob 
S. , had located two years previously. There 
he was engaged in farming with his brother 
until i860, when he returned to Adrian, 
Michigan, and formed a partnership with 
J. W. Helme, his former employer, under 



the name of Helme & Company. This con- 
nection existed a year and a half, but after 
the Civil war broke out he gave up his busi- 
ness prospects to enter the service of his 
country. In March, 1862, he enlisted in 
Company D, Fourth Michigan Volunteer 
Infantry, and was in the commissary de- 
partment of the western division until mus- 
tered out at San Antonio, Texas, March 
21, 1865. 

After the war, Mr. Finch purchased land 
in Lenawee county, Michigan, where he 
engaged in farming for three years. He 
was inarried October 10, i860, in Lyons, 
Iowa, to Miss Anna Langford, who was 
born in Clinton county, that state, when it 
was still a territor}', and is a daughter of 
C. E. and Hannah (Shaddock) Langford. 
Her father was the founder of the Langford 
iS; Hall Lumber Compaii}-, of Fulton, which 
still bears his name. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Finch were born five children: Darius, a 
lumber dealer of Woonsocket, South Da- 
kota; May, wife of D. F. Thomas, a noted 
artist of Chicago; Lizzie, who lives at home 
and has successfully engaged in teaching in 
the public schools for some years; Bert H., 
who is engaged in the bicycle business in 
Clinton, Iowa; and Helen, who is a teacher 
in the kindergarten department of the 
Northern Illinois College at Fulton. 

In September, 1868, Mr. Finch came to 
Fulton, Illinois, and accepted a clerical 
position in the office of the Langford & Hall 
Lumber Company, which he held only a 
short time, however. He then turned his 
attention to carpentering, and in 1874 
established a brick yard in Fulton, which he 
successfully carried on until 1890, when he 
retired from the business. During his entire 
residence here he has been interested in the 
real estate business, buying property, on 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



i6s 



which he has built houses, and then selling 
them. In this way he has erected about 
twenty residences in the city, the first of 
these being built in 1S71. In 1890, out of 
the last brick he manufactured, he built what 
is known as the Woodmen Block, on the 
corner of Base and Wall streets, which is a 
fine brick building, 48x90 feet, with two 
store rooms below and offices above. There 
is also a large fire-proof vault in the back of 
the building. It was occupied by the Modern 
Woodmen of America until the removal of 
the headquarters of the order from Fulton, 
and now the Mystic Workers of the World 
occupy a part of the offices. For one year 
after leaving the lumber office, Mr. Finch 
was engaged in the grocery and bakery 
business, but at the end of that tiuie lii.s 
store was destroyed by fire. 

On national issues, Mr. Finch votes with 
the Democratic part}', but in local affairs is 
independent in [)olitics. He has taken 
quite an important part in public matters, 
and has held all the municipal offices from 
street commissioner to mayor. He is now 
alderman from the first ward, which position 
he has filled for several years, and in 18S7 
was mayor of the city, it being under his 
administration that the present efficient sys- 
tem of water-works were adopted. There 
was a big fight on the adoption of the works, 
and an injunction was served which cau-ed 
a delay of two \ears. He has also been a 
member of the board of education for three 
years. Mr. Finch is a progressive man, pre- 
eminently public-spirited, and all that per- 
tains to the public welfare receives his hearty 
endorsement and support. Fraternally, he 
is a Master Mason, a memljer of the Modern 
Woodmen of America, and also belongs to 
Robert Hale Post, G. A. R., in which he 
has filled all the offices. 



JOHN RILEY, M. D., who is spending 
vJ the closing years of his long and useful 
life free from business cares at his pleasant 
home in Spring Hill, was for nearly half a 
century one of the leading physicians of this 
section of Illinois, practicing for twenty- 
seven years of that time in Whiteside 
county. He was born September 30, 1818, 
in New York City, a son of George and 
Elizabeth (Rhodes) Riley. His father, a 
native of New York, served as a soldier in 
the war of 181 2, and afterwards located in 
New York City, where he remained until 
his death, in 1824. 

John Riley grew to man's estate on a 
farm in Montgomery county, New York, 
whither he was taken soon after the death 
of his father. His educational advantages 
were necessarily limited, but being stu- 
dious and ambitious he acquired a substan- 
tial foundation for his future knowledge by 
his own efforts. While \et a young man 
he taught school several terms, and subse- 
quently took up the study of medicine in 
Fulton county. New York, from whence he 
went to Castleton, Vermont, where he en- 
tered the Medical College, from which he 
was graduated in 1843 with the degree of 
M. D. At once commencing his profes- 
sional career in Saratoga county, New York, 
he remained there^ until 1846, when he re- 
moved to t\nD.K count)-, Illinois. Three 
years later he settled in Henry county, not 
far from Andover, and during the few years 
that he was there met with excellent suc- 
cess in his profession. In 1853 Dr. Riley 
came to Spring Hill, Whiteside county, as 
a pioneer settler and physician, and by his 
skill and thorough knowledge of medicine 
soon won the confidence and esteem of the 
people. In the course of a few years he 
built up an extensive and lucrative practice, 



1 66 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



his ride extending to all the adjoining coun- 
ties, for notwithstanding the difficulties of 
traveling in the early days he always re- 
sponded cheerfully and promptly to the 
calls of his numerous patients. A man of 
prudent foresight and good business capac- 
ity, the Doctor purchased land soon after 
locating at Spring Hill, and has since im- 
proved a fine homestead. He \\'as also 
engaged in mercantile business here for 
eight or more years, meeting with excellent 
success in this as in his other industries. 

On December 26, 1844, Dr. Riley mar- 
ried Abigail Burnett, who was born in 
Montgomery county, New York, a daugh- 
ter of Isaac and Azubah (Slocum) Burnett. 
Mr. Burnett, who was born and reared on 
Long Island, New York, died in manhood's 
prime, when his daughter Abigail was but 
six }-ears old. Mrs. Burnett, born in iSoo, 
survived him many years, passing away in 
i860. Seven sons have blessed the union 
of Dr. and Mrs. Riley, as follows: Charles, 
a soldier of the late Civil war, was sub- 
sequently connected with the schools of 
Geneseo, Illinois, a long time, having taught 
in the high school fifteen years, besides 
serving as superintendent of 'schools seven 
years, an office which he afterwards filled in 
Aurora, Illinois, for a time, and is now a 
well known 'lawyer of Albion, Nebraska; 
John, who was graduated from the medical 
department of the Iowa State University, is 
a successful physician of Exira, Audubon 
count}', Iowa; ^^'illiam, formerly a lawyer 
in Reinbeck, Grundy county, Iowa, died in 
March, 1S87; George W., a lawyer in 
Wayne, Wayne county, Nebraska; Bruce, 
now living in Goldfield, Iowa, received his 
degree of M. D. at the University of 
Iowa, having been graduated from the 
medical department; Henry Clay resides on 



the home farm; and Lincoln, an active 
practitioner of Wisner, Cuming county, 
Nebraska, is at present serving as coroner 
at that place. 

Politically the Doctor was in early years 
an old-line Whig, and as such voted for W. 
H. Harrison; he was connected with the 
Republican party for twenty years after its 
formation, but more recently has been 
actively identified with the Prohibition party. 
He has always taken a deep interest in local 
affairs, and has served as chairman of the 
central committee besides being a delegate 
to county conventions. In 1872 he was 
elected county coroner, an office which he 
filled most satisfactorily. Fraternally Doc- 
tor Riley is a Master Mason, and the only 
surviving charter member of Spring Hill 
lodge. No. 412, which he served a number 
of years as secretary. Mrs. Riley, a woman 
of true christian worth, united with the 
Methodist Episcopal church when young, 
and has since been one of its faithful mem- 
bers. During their long residence in this 
county the Doctor and his good wife have 
witnessed marvellous transformations in the 
face of the country, and as generous, liberal- 
minded and progressive citizens have aided 
in the development of the town and county 
in which they reside. 



MRS. NAOMI J. MANGAN, the widow 
of Richard L. Mangan, formerly one 
of the prominent and patriotic citizens of 
Sterling, deserves special mention in this 
work, as she has made her home in this 
place for about two-score years. Her birth 
occurred in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, 
July 31, 1822. Her parents, Samuel and 
Priscilla (Rapp) Thoman, were natives of 
the Keystone state. The grandfather of 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



16/ 



Priscilla Thoman was born in Germany, 
and his only male representative now liv- 
ing;', William Raj)]!, is in his eighty-eif:;hth 
year, and a resident of ISucks county. Of 
the si.x sons and six daughters born to 
Samuel and Priscilla Thoman, si.x have 
passed away, an<I (.)f those living: Jacob is 
a resident of Germantown, Penns3lvania; 
Louisa is the widow of Hurley Logan, of 
Philadelphia; Isaiah lives in Ivoxboro, Penn- 
sylvania; William is a citizen of Goshen, 
Ohio; and Hester is the wife of Charles 
Barnes, of Rock Falls, Illinois; Samuel 
Thoman was a shoemaker by trade, l)ut 
during his last years he turned his attention 
to agriculture. After the death of his first 
wife he^married Ann Markley, and had one , 
son, Morris. 

Until she arrived at maturity, Mrs. 
Naomi J. Mangan continued to reside in 
her native state, her education being such 
as was afforded by the common schools. 
On the 1 6th of September, 1843, she be- 
came the wife of R. L. Mangan, whose 
birth had occurred in Philadelphia, July 23, 
1 82 I. In youth he had learned the trade 
of a stone mason, and this pursuit he fol- 
lowed until 1859, when he turned his atten- 
tion to farming for a period. He was of 
English descent, his parents having been 
born in the Queen's dominion— and of their 
numerous children only one now survives 
— Mrs. Caroline Stewart, whose home is 
near Salem, New Jersey. 

Richard L. Mangan manifested his de- 
votion to his country by offering himself to 
the Union cause, and in August, 1862, was 
enlisted in Company D, Seventy-fifth Regi- 
ment of Illinois Infantry. With his com- 
pany he participated in many of the stirring 
events and battles of the war, was promoted 
to the rank of corporal, July 29, 1862; was 



made first sergeant April 8, 1863. and on 
the 17th of the same month was made sec- 
ond lieutenant. At the battle of Kenesaw 
Mountain, in June, 1S64, he was detailed to 
cut some brush for the purpose of screening 
some of their maneuvers from the enemy, 
but, unfortimatcly, he was singled out by a 
sharp-shooter, and was severely wounded in 
the foot. This necessitated the amputation 
of his leg just below tlie knee, and in Sep- 
tember he returned home. For almost a 
year he wore a rudely constructed wooden 
leg, which was very painful to the injured 
member, an<i, at last, going to Philadelphia, 
he obtained one of a more scientific pattern. 
Needless to say, that he never ceased to be 
seriously inconvenienced, and as long as he 
lived paid daily tribute of suffering for his 
country. 

From boyhood, Mr. Mangan had a great 
love for plants and flowers, and when he 
had sufficiently recovered from his war-time 
service, he began doing business in Sterling 
in a small way, as a florist. In time, he 
became prosperous, gradually increasing the 
dimensions of his greenhouses in order to 
accommodate the great numbers of plants 
which he carried in stock. As he was the 
only person in his line of business in this 
city, and as every one desired to specially 
honor the hero of the war, he was kept 
constantly busy in attending to the demands 
of the public, and earlj' pressed his sons 
into the same service. 

For a number of years, Mr. Mangan held 
the office of justice of the peace, being 
elected at the close of his army service. 
For eight years he served the people here 
faithfully in the capacity of city treasurer, 
and had just completed his term a few 
weeks prior to his death. Politically, he 
was a Republican of no uncertain stamp. 



1 68 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



About 1845, he joined the Independent 
Order of Odd Fellows; also a member of 
the G. A. R. He was an active member of 
the Broadway Methodist Episcopal church, 
and died, as he had lived, an earnest Chris- 
tian. His death took place on the i6th of 
May, 1887. 

The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Mangan 
was blessed with five daughters and si.\ sons. 
Mary L. , wife of Erwin King, of Chicago, 
has one daughter, Amy E. Samuel S. is 
represented elsewhere in this work. Will- 
iam F. married Flora White, and has five 
children, nameh': Mabel, Edna, Llo^d, 
Hazel and Fern. William F. is a harness- 
maker by trade, and his home is near that 
of his widowed mother, in Sterling. Emily 
F. is the wife of C. E. Hoyt, a traveling 
salesman of this place. They are the par- 
ents of three children, Harry, Winnifred and 
Carl. George wedded Florence Drew, and 
both are deceased. Their three daughters 
were named: Blanche, Annie and Bessie. 
Caroline F. is the wife of C. E. Stevens, 
who is engaged in the ice business in Sterl- 
ing. Of their children two died in infancy 
and those living are: ' Maud, Dollie, Ernest, 
Thomas and Alex. Richard L., who is em- 
ployed at the Sterling water-works, chose 
Laura Bowman for his wife, and they have 
three sons, Clarence, Arthur and I^ichard. 
Clara is the wife of T. Shaw, of Rock Falls, 
Illinois, and her only child is named Alta. 
Cyrus, who married Nellie Healy, has two 
sons, Claud and Walter. He is engaged in 
the manufacturing of harness, in this city. 
Erwin J., who married Ida Hendricks, has 
five children, Pearl, Ethel, Margery, 
Maurice and Dorothy. He has been inter- 
ested in the Iforisi's business, and has charge 
of the green-houses which formerly were 
owned by his father. Adella is the wife 



of Ed Coe, a farmer of Hopkins township, 
and their three children are Mortimer, Al- 
bert and Carrol. 

Very few ladies in the United States can 
boast of a longer membership with any 
fraternal organization than can Mrs. Man- 
gan, whose connection with the Daughters 
of Rebecca dates back forty-six years. She 
also has been an active member of the 
Woman's Relief Corps, and during the war 
performed her full share as a patriot and 
stanch defender of the Union. Besides, 
she is an honorary member of the Royal 
Neighbors — a local organization. Relig- 
iously she upholds the same doctrines as 
did her esteemed husband, and is accounted 
one of the sterling members of the Broad- 
way Methodist Episcopal church. 



SAMUEL T. MANGAN, of Sterling, is a 
hero of the war of the Rebellion, and is 
well deserving of special mention in the 
annals of his county, state and country, for 
the prominent part he played as a patriotic 
citizen. He is a native of Bucks county, 
Pennsylvania, born February 11, 1847, and 
is a son of Richard L. and Naomi J. Mangan, 
whose history is printed elsewhere in this 
work. 

When he was eight years of age, S. T. 
Mangan came to Sterling with his parents, 
and here he received his education. In 1S63, 
his youthful ardor to enlist in the defense 
of the Union could no longer be restrained, 
and he became a member of Company D, 
Thirty-fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry-. 
The first engagement in which he partici- 
pated was that of Buzzards' Roost, after 
which he was actively engaged in the battle 
of Resaca, and Rome, Georgia. With Sher- 
man, he fought his way through Georgia 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



169 



to the sea, being engaged in almost continu- 
ous si<irmishes. For about six months, he 
served on detached chity at headquarters, 
as provost orderly, and with his regiment 
took part in the Grand Review at Washing- 
ton, being honorably discharged from the 
service July 12, 1865, then only eighteen 
years of age. 

Returning home, Mr. Mangan found 
employment with farmers in this county un- 
til 1869, when he was elected to the office 
of constable, a position he acceptably tilled 
for si.xteen years. In 1883, he also acted 
as city marshal of Sterling, and for the past 
thirty years he has been connected with the 
police department. During the past four 
years he has been a member of Lincoln 
Hose Company No. 2. From i 868 to 1S71 
he was a deputy sheriff, but though he was 
offered a permanent position as such, he re- 
fused the proffered office. In 1869, he 
joined the Sterling City Guards, which 
organization was subsequently disbanded. 
Later, he became a member of the Sixth 
Illinois National Guards, serving from 1887 
until 1897, and when the Third Regiment 
of Illinois National Guards was established 
became identified with that body. The 
boys who wore the blue during the Civil war 
have always had a warm place in his affec- 
tions, and for years he has been a member 
of the \V. Robinson post. No. 74, G. A. R. 
Politically, he is affiliated with the Repub- 
lican party. 

On the 25th of January, 1875, Mr. Man- 
gan married Sophia S. Bassett, who was 
born in the town now known as Polo, in 
Ogle county, Illinois, January 2 1, 1847. 
Her parents, James A. and Anna M. (Wol- 
cott) Bassett, natives of Delaware county, 
New York, came to Illinois in 1843, and re- 
sides in Ogle county until 1872. From 



that year until death they dwelt in Sterling, 
the mother dying in March, 1878, and the 
father January 5, 1898. Of their five chil- 
dren, Charles O. , a stone mason, living in 
Ijoone county, Iowa, is the father of five 
children; George O., a teamster and farmer 
of Rock Falls; Sophia, wife of our subject; 
Emma E., deceased, and formerly wife of 
Henry EUingsworth, of Red Oak, Iowa, 
had three children; and Marcus P., a stone 
mason of Sterling, Illinois, has three chil- 
dren. After the death of his first wife, James 
A. Bassett married Mrs. Helen Sumner, 
who had two children by her first union, 
and to them a daughter, Lucy, was born. 

To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Mangan 
four children were born, namely: Roy J., 
whose birth took place February 22, 1876, 
and whose death occurred when he was 
nearly thirteen years of age; Edith, August 
26, 1877; Jessie A., November 29, 1878; 
and Grace M., September 27, 1884. 



HUGH A. BOYD, a public-spirited and 
enterprising citizen of Morrison, and 
one of the most prominent factors in her 
business circles, is a man whose worth and 
ability have gained him success, honor and 
public confidence. He enj.oys the well- 
earned distinction of being what is known as 
a " self-made man," and an analyzation of 
his character reveals the fact that enterprise, 
well-directed effort and honorable dealing 
have been the essential features in his pros- 
perity. 

Mr. Boyd was born in Stevenson, Ayre- 
shire, Scotland, June i, 1838, and is a son 
of William and Mary (Robertson) Boyd, 
representatives of good old Ayreshire fam- 
ilies. The father was a prominent citizen 
of Stevenson, and in his native land en- 



I70 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



gaged in business as a contractor for rail- 
roads and transportation companies. In 
1856, with a part ot his family, he came to 
the United slates and took up his residence 
in Whiteside county, Illinois, where he 
owned a small farm but practically lived re- 
tired from active labor. To them were 
born ten children, namely: John, who came 
to America prior to his father, sailing on the 
steamer Edinboro when she made her first 
trip; Mary, wife of Robert Robertson; Will- 
iam, who came to this country with his 
brother John and who is now a resident of 
Grand Island, Nebraska; Hugh A., our sub- 
ject; Jane, widow of John Clark; and Peter 
R., a resident of Morrison. The above 
children came to America, but Jeanette, 
the oldest, remained in Scotland, and 
Thomas died in that country, as did also 
Peter. Margaret died in St. Louis. The 
parents were consistent members of the 
Presbyterian church and most estimable 
people. 

Hugh A. Boyd received a good practical 
education by attending evening school, hav- 
ing to work like most boys in his native 
land during the day. He was employed 
principally upon public works and in brick 
yards. At the age of eighteen he came with 
his parents to the new world, reaching Mor- 
rison in the spring of 1856. The railroad 
had just been completed the previous fall, 
and in the midst of a thicket of brush and 
crab apple trees the town was springing into 
e.xistence. 

Our subject first worked on a farm for a 
short time while learning the ways of the 
country, and then went to Cairo, where he 
spent the first winter. For some time he 
spent the summer months at home engaged 
in farming work and the winters in the south 
at New Orleans, Mobile and other parts of 



Louisiana and Alabama, and also in Florida, 
being for about two years and a half over- 
seer for a railroad contract, building bridges, 
culvert, etc. He helped open up the line 
from Utah to Selma, Alabama, doing all the 
bridge and timber work, trestles, etc. His 
employer, Mr. Nelson, had taken a contract 
to build one hundred and si.xteen miles of 
road from Selma to Brown, Florida, on the 
Alabama & Southwest Railroad. A gang of 
men were driving spikes at the navy yard in 
Florida on the morning the first gun was 
fired on Fort Sumter, but he finished his 
work and returned to Selma with from four 
liundred and seventy-five to five hundred 
men. Mr. Boyd did not wish to stay in the 
south after hostilities commenced but could 
not get away as his agreement was to stay 
until the new foundations were put in for 
the river pier on the Alabama & Tennessee 
River Railroad. As soon as these were 
above low water mark he secured his pass 
and started for home, traveling by railroad 
and stage by way of Rome, Georgia, and 
Chattanooga, Tennessee. He reached Mor- 
rison in October, 1861, being almost a 
month in making the trip. 

For some time Mr. Boyd was variously 
emplo3'ed. He went south for his brother, 
William, who was very ill in the army. 
Later he did general contracting. He did 
part of the exxavating, furnished all mate- 
rial, employed a number of men, kept sev- 
eral teams of his own, and did a large and 
successful business. After a number of 
years spent in that manner, he commenced 
buying stock for W' hitcomb & Woods, stock 
shippers. While thus employed he became 
thoroughly familiar with the business of 
handling stock and on leaving their employ 
he embarked in the butcher and meat market 
business on his own account, opening a shop 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



171 



in Morrison, in 1871. This he has since 
successfully conducted. For the first year 
he carried on business in partnership with 
his brother-in-law, John Clark, and later 
Whitcomb & Wood owned a half interest 
in the business for fifteen months. With 
these eNxeptions he has always been alone 
in business. He occupies a fine brick block 
on Main street erected by him in 1892. It 
is supplied with all modern conveniences 
needed by the trade, having; a cold storage 
in the center. The main building is 70 x 22 
feet, while in the rear it is 24x22 feet. 
The upper fioor is divided in office rooms. 
It is an elegant building, one of the best in 
the city. Besides this property Mr. Boyd 
owns a farm of one hundred acres one mile 
from Morrison, and has a tine residence on 
the south side surrounded by two and a 
half acres of ground, which he transformed 
from a wild tract into a most beautiful place. 
He practically controls the meat business of 
the city, having by fair and honorable deal- 
ing built up an excellent trade. He is also 
president of the Traders Life Ir.surance 
Company, of which he was one of the found- 
ers and prominent promoters. Although 
only three years old it is now in a flourish- 
ing condition, due to his able management 
and good business ability. 

Mr. Boyd was married in Morrison, in 
1862, to Miss Sarah Clark, of Fredonia, 
New York, and they have four children: 
Herbert M., who is manager for Swift & 
Company at Cheyenne, Wyoming, married 
AUie Snyder, daughter of J. H. Snyder and 
lias one daughter, Kathryn; Gertrude is the 
wife of S. C. Ely, of Morrison, and has one 
daughter, Margery; John Thomas is travel- 
ing for the firm of Swift & Company; and 
Afary is at home. Mr. and Mrs. Iioyd are 

both members of the Baptist church, of 
10 



which he has been a trustee for twenty-five 
years. Socially, he belongs to Grove 
lodge and encampment, I. O. O. F. , and 
is a charter member of the Knights of the 
Maccabees at Morrison. He is independent 
in politics, but usually supports the Repub- 
lican party, and cast his first presidential 
vote for Abraham Lincoln in Alabama in 
i860, when it took some courage to support 
that candidate in the south. He served 
three terms as alderman of Morrison, ;uid 
was instrumental in securing the present 
system of water works and sewers. In 
1895 he was elected ma)'or and re-elected 
two years later, but refused to accept a 
a third term as the duties of the ofifice re- 
quired too much time needed in his business. 
The reins of city government were never in 
more capable hands, as he is public spirited, 
enterprising and progressive, and he left 
ofifice as he had entered it with the entire 
respect and confidence of his ferow citi- 
Zins. 

EZRA 1>. HILI^, an honored pioneer of 
Whiteside county, who is now living 
a retired life in Prophetstown, was born in 
the village of Castleton, Rutland county, 
Vermont, July 30. 1822, and is a son of 
William and Susan (Hor) Hul, the latter born 
October 14, 1786, natives of \'errnont and 
Massachusetts, respectively. The paternal 
grandfather, William Hill, Sr. , was also a 
native of the Green Mountain state. In 
early life the father followed the wheel- 
wright's and carpenter's trades in the east. 
In 1835, with two teams of five horses, he 
started for Illinois, his destination being 
Peoria, which point he liad visited the jear 
previous. After a long and tedious journey 
he reached Chicago, where he met J imes 
Pratt, who the year before had been to 



172 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Whiteside county and recommended this 
section of the state to Mr. Hill. He then 
changed his course and came to this countv. 
He purchased Mr. Gordon's claim of one 
hundred and si.xt}' acres on Washington 
street, on which had previously been erected 
a log house of one room, and in it his and 
another family lived during the winter spent 
in this state. The following year he built 
an addition to his dwelling, fenced and 
opened up his farm. Later he purchased 
more land and soon had a fine farm of two 
hundred acres, upon which he spent the 
last years of his life, dying there in 1842, 
at the age of fifty years. His wife survived 
him a number of years. They were the 
parents of six children, five sons and one 
daughter, namely: Sullivan, who married 
and is now deceased; John, who died un- 
married; William, a resident of Sterling; 
Ezra B. , our subject; F. M., a resident of 
Prophetstown; a wealthy citizen of this 
county; and Almira, deceased wife of I. C. 
Southern. 

Amid pioneer scenes, Ezra B. Hill grew 
to manhood in this county, and as his school 
privileges were limited he is almost wholly 
self-educated. He assisted in opening up and 
improving the home farm and helped make 
the rails lence to the first forty-acre field, 
these being made in a grove si.K miles from 
home. The first year they raised a good 
crop, and he continued to aid his father in 
the labors of the field until the latter's 
death, after which he and his brothers suc- 
cessfully carried on the farm together for 
several years. 

In this county, Mr. Hill was married, in 
1848, to Miss Permelia Jane Underbill, a 
native of New York and daughter of Hiram 
Underbill, one of the early settlers of White- 
side county. They began their domestic 



life upon a farm of eighty acres adjoining 
the old homestead, which he had previously 
purchased, and on which he had erected a 
good frame house. He also owned a part 
of the home farm. After operating this 
place for twelve or fifteen years, he sold 
and bought an improved farm of one hun- 
dred and seventy acres, to the further devel- 
opment and cultivation of which he devoted 
his energies until 1885, when he rented the 
place and moved to Prophetstown. Here 
he bought a residence which he has since 
remodeled and converted into a neat and 
comfortable home, where he expects to 
spend the remainder of his life in ease and 
quiet, having laid aside all business cares. 

Mr. Hill has been called upon to mourn 
the loss of his estimable wife, who died 
September 12, 1895. To them were born 
eight children, who are still living, namely: 
Charles, who is married and engaged in 
farming near Hastings, Hamilton county, 
Nebraska; Ella M., wife of David Bailes, a 
business man of Hastings, Nebraska; Eva, 
wife of William Lancaster, of Prophetstown; 
Sumner and Charles G., who are both mar- 
ried and follow farming in this count\-; 
Pleasant, who is married and engaged in 
farming near Holdrege, Nebraska; and Lillie 
Ann, who now acts as her father's house- 
keeper. 

Previous to i860, Mr. Hill was an old- 
line Whig, but since then has been a stanch 
supporter of the Republican party. Al- 
though he has served as highway commis- 
sioner and a member of the school board, 
he has never cared for political honors, pre- 
ferring to devote his entire time and atten- 
tion to his business interests. Religiously 
he is a faithful member of the Methodist 
Episcopal church of Prophetstown. For 
sixty-four long years he has been a resident 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



173 



of Whiteside county, ami lias watched wilii 
interest the wonderful changes that have 
taken place in this section during that time. 
On his arrival here the country was almost 
an unbroken wilderness, much of the county 
was swamp land, which then seemed almost 
useless, but by the means of ditches and 
tiling, has been converted into productive 
and fertile fields. Indians were still seen in 
great numbers; deer, wolves and wild game 
of all kinds were plentiful, but all have dis- 
appeared before the advancing civilization, 
and the county is now well populated with 
an industrious, intelligent and contented 
people, who have good homes and tine 
farms. In the work of development and 
progress Mr. Hill has borne an active and 
prominent part, and on the pages of his 
county's history he is certainly deserving of 
honorable mention. 



CHARLES P. STURTEVANT. The 
world instinctively pays deference to 
the man whose success in life has been 
worthily achieved, and who has reached a 
iiigh position in the bu.siness world. This 
is a progressive age, and he who does not 
advance is soon left far behind. Mr. Sturte- 
vant, by the improvement of opportunities 
by which all are surrounded, has steadily 
and honorably worked his way upward, and 
is to day one of the leading stock-dealers of 
Whiteside county. He now makes his home 
in Prophetstown. 

A native of tin's comity, Mr. Sluitcvatit 
was born on a farm near Rock Falls De- 
cember 31, 1854, and is descended from a 
family of Dutch origin, which was founded 
in Massachusetts in colonial d.tys. His 
granil father, Peres Sturtevant, was a native 
of New Hampshire, from which state he re- 



moved to Vermont, where he opened up a 
farm and reared his family. The father of 
our subject, Josiah C. Sturtevant, was born 
in New Hampshire June 16. 1S05, and gresv 
to manhood in Vermont, where he married 
Miss Mary Robbins, a native of that state 
and a daughter of Jonas Robbins. one of its 
pioneers. There they continued to make 
their home until after the birth of si.\ ot 
their children, when in 1843 they came to 
Illinois and lirst located at Como, White- 
side count)-, where the father engaged in 
farming. He purchased a tract of wild land 
and opened up a farm near Rock Falls, to 
the cultivation and improvement of which 
he devoted his energies for many years, but 
he spent his last days in Rock Falls, where 
he died in 1896, at the advanced age of 
ninety-one years. His wife passed away in 
1S81. 

Reared on tlie old homestead, Charles 
P. Sturtevant early accjuired an excellent 
knowledge of the duties which fall to the 
lot of the agriculturist, and in the common 
schools of the neighborhood he obtained his 
literary education. After arriving at man's 
estate he went to northwesJern Iowa, where 
he engaged in stock-dealing and the real 
estate business for one year. He then re- 
turned to this county and turned his atten- 
tion to general far.iiing and the feeding of 
stock, becoming one of the most extensive 
stock-dealers of the county, annually ship- 
ping to the city markets from two hundred 
and fifty to five hundred head of cattle and 
about ten car-loads of fat hogs. He is the 
owner of three valuable ami well-improved 
farms, one in Lyndon township and two in 
Fenton townshij), aggregating fifteen hun- 
dred acres. 

In Lyndon township, April 4, 1885, was 
celebrated the marriage of Mr. Sturtevant 






174 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



and Miss Esther- M. Brooks, who was born 
and reared in Whiteside county, lUinois, 
and was educated there and in Saginaw, 
Michigan. Her father, Pardon A. Brooks, 
was a pioneer of this county, coming thither 
from Boston, Massachusetts, in 1837, and 
he became one of the substantial farmers of 
Lyndon township. To our subject and 
his wife have been born four children: 
Edna M. , Imogen, Hazel I. and Paul Allen. 
They began their domestic life on a farm in 
Fenton township, and later lived on the old 
Brooks homestead in Lyndon township, 
now owned by Mr. Sturtevant. In 1898 
they removed to Prophetstown, where on 
the banks of the beautiful Rock river, he is 
now erecting one of the largest and most 
tasteful modern residences in town. 

On national issues Mr. Sturtevant has 
always affiliated with the Democratic party, 
casting his first presidential vote for General 
Hancock, but at local elections he is inde- 
pendent in politics, voting for whom he be- 
lieves to be the best men, regardless of 
party lines. While a resident of Lyndon 
township, he served as supervisor for one 
term, and in the spring of 1899 was elected 
to represent Prophetstown on the honorable 
county board of supervisors, where he is 
now serving as a member of the board and 
of the finance committee. He has been a 
delegate to the county conventions of his 
party many times, and has ever taken quite 
an active and prominent part in public 
affairs. His wife is a member of the Con- 
gregational church, of Prophetstown, and in 
the best social circles of the village they oc- 
cupy an enviable position, being highly re- 
spected and esteemed by all who know 
them. They are members of the Eastern 
Star lodge, of which Mrs. Sturtevant is now 
worthy matron, and our subject also belongs 



to Lyndon blue lodge and chapter of the 
Masonic fraternity. As a business man he 
ranks among the best in his community, 
and his success is due to his keen discrimi- 
nation, sound judgment and able manage- 
ment. 



ISAM S. PARRISH, a well-known laun- 
1 dryman and prominent citizen of Ster- 
ling, is a native of this county, born in Gene- 
see township, January 11, 1851. The Par- 
rish family has lived in Lincolnshire, Eng- 
land, from the time when William the 
Conqueror invaded that country, in 1066. 
The founder of the family on this side of 
the Atlantic came to America with William 
Penn, and two of his sons afterward went 
to Virginia. Major Parrish, the grand- 
father of our subject, was an officer in the 
war of 1812, and died in a military hospital 
twelve miles below Richmond, \'irginia. In 
the fall of 18 I 5, his widow, with her family, 
went to Kentucky, and after residing there 
about two years removed to Dyersburg, 
Dyer county, Tennessee. 

Watson Parrish, the youngest son of 
Major Parrish and the father of our subject, 
was born near Richmond, Virginia, August 
31, 1805, and accompanied the family on 
their removal to Iventucky and later to Ten- 
nessee. He was first married in the latter 
state, December 12, 1S29, to Louisa De- 
ment, a native of Dyersburg, and in June, 
1839, with their six children, they came to 
Whiteside county, Illinois, and settled in 
Genesee Grove, on land which had not yet 
been surveyed. At one time he owned 
about a section of land; most of which he 
gave to his children, but still owned one 
hundred and si.xty acres at the time of his 
death, which occurred July 14, 1884. When 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



175 



a young man he engaged in boat building 
to some extent, but througliout the greater 
part of his life followed farming. In 1S56 
he was interested in the lumber business, 
his sons, Elias and William, superintending 
the cutting of the logs in the pine woods of 
Wisconsin, and one of his rafts was nearly 
all lost in the tornado which destroyed the 
village of Albany. In 1844 he circulated a 
petition for the organization of public 
schools in Genesee township, and by most 
persistent effort he secured the legal num- 
ber of signatures and accomplished the de- 
sired object. 

By his first marriage Watson Parrish 
had eight children, of whom six were born 
in Dyersburg, Tennessee, and the others in 
Genesee Grove, this county. They were as 
follows: (i) William C. , born February i, 
1 83 I, was educated at Knox College, Gales- 
burg, Illinois, and was married, but his 
wife died leaving no children. During the 
Civil war he enlisted in Company G, Thirty- 
ninth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and died 
from disease contracted in the service, at 
Williamsport, Maryland, November 29, 
1861. (2) Elias, born January 12, 1S32, 
was also educated at Knox College, and is 
now a farmer of Vesta, Johnson county, 
Nebraska. He married Ann Kite and has 
a large family of children. (3) Augustine, 
born September 8, 1833, married Martha 
Bunnell, and is interested in gold mining, 
stock raising and fruit growing in Chico, 
Butte county, California. His brothers, 
William and Sampson, went with him to 
that state in the early days of surface min- 
ing, crossing the plains with an ox team, 
and they worked on the Feather river, 
where Augustine still owns a ranch on the 
west branch of that stream. His brothers 
returned home by way of Cape Horn. (4) 



Sampson, born April 25, 1835, attended 
Knox College, and is now a lumber mer- 
chant and farmer of Milford, Iowa. He 
was married Octoben 14, 1858, to Sarah 
Courtright, and they have seven children. 
(5) Watson, born March 9, 1837, also at- 
tended Knox College, and after the war 
took up the study of law and graduated 
from the law department of the State Uni- 
versity, at Ann Arbor, Michigan. He was 
a member of Company G, Thirty-ninth Illi- 
nois Volunteer Infantry, and was in the 
service until the close of the war, although 
he was once- wounded. He engaged in the 
practice of law and in banking in Nebraska, 
was a member of the state legislature, and 
was one of the first five directors appointed 
by the government for the Union Pacific 
Railroad, which position he held for four 
years. He is now a prominent attorney of 
San Diego, California. He married Lucy 
Roberts, of Genesee township, and they 
have one son, Frederick. (6) Sarah Ann, 
born April 27, 1839, was married Novem- 
ber 16, 1859, to Isaac Newton Thorp, 
who was born May 20, 1836. - He 
was a private in Company E, Forty- 
sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, during 
the Civil war, and was drowned in the 
Mississippi river, while landing from trans- 
ports near Vicksburg, January 3, 1865. He 
left two children: (a) Katie A., born De- 
cember 19, i860, was educated at Mount 
Vernon College, Iowa, and is now the wife 
of W. C. Holbrook, whose sketch appears 
on another page of this volume, (b) Harry 
Elmer, born September 16, 1862, was edu- 
cated at Dixon College, and was married 
September 30, 1886, to Huldah'E. Stanley. 
He is now a farmer of Marshalltown, Iowa. 
The mother of these children was again 
married September 23, 1870, her second 



176 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



union being with John Cummings, who died 
in January, 1896, leaving two children, 
Myrtie and Watson, both residents of Stirl- 
ing. (7) Henry Harmson, born August 15, 
1842, was also a member of Company G, 
Thirty-ninth Illinois Infantry, during the 
Civil war, and is now a merchant of Archer 
Grove, Iowa. He was married December 
10, 1865, to Martha E. Evans, and to them 
were born four children: Effie, wife of A. 
K. Wick, of Round Grove; Wesley R. ; 
Mabel, and Donald. (8) Amanda, born 
April 7, 1845, was married in January, 1870, 
to Bela T. St. John, and they have four 
children: Thomas, Clara, Burton and 
Idella. Mrs. Louisa Parrish, the mother 
of these children, was born March 8, 1810, 
and died May 14, 1S47. 

Watson Parrish was again married, 
March 16, 1848, his second union being with 
Miss Nancy Broadwell, who was born near 
Buffalo, New York, and died October 9, 
1855. By this union three children were 
born, namely: (9) John Broadwell, born 
January 15, 1849, is a farmer living near 
Luverne, Minnesota. He was married 
September 8, 1870, to Delilah A. Court- 
right, who died May 12, 1887. Of their 
four children, three are still living. By his 
second marriHge he also had three children. 
(10) Isam Shelton, our subject, is the next 
of the family. (11) Fiances M., born in 
April, I 854, was married September 2, 1874, 
to Kendrick E. Bills, who is engaged in the 
agricultural implement business in Milledge- 
viUe, Carroll count)', Illinois, and they have 
one child, Henry. 

On the 27th of May, 1856, Watson Par- 
rish married Mrs. Louisa (Broadwell) How- 
iand, a sister of his second wife. She was 
first married, February 10, 1853, to Wesley 
Howland, who died September 30, 1855. 



By that union she had twochildren: Lewis, 
who died September 2, 1854, at the age of 
three months; and Wesley, now a farmer of 
Genesee township, this county, who was 
married January 15, 1879, to Mary T. 
Stanley. By his third marriage, Watson 
Parrish had twochildren: (12) Harriet G., 
was married, January 10, 1877, to S. 
Wesley Johnson, a banker of Ripley, Iowa, 
and died in 1894. They had one daughter, 
Nellie. (13) Emma M. was married, Janu- 
ary 15, 1879, to Andrew D. Stanley, a 
farmer of Genesee township, this county, 
and they have one child, Nellie. The 
mother of these children died July 26, 1881. 
Isam S. Parrish, whose name introduces 
this sketch, acquired a good comtnon-school 
education in district No. 3, and was reared 
upon the home farm, of which he took 
charge after reaching man's estate, and suc- 
cessfully engaged in general farming and 
stock raising. He still owns the original 
homestead of one hundred and thirty-iive 
acres on sections 19, 20, 29 and 30, Genesee 
township, on which the old log house, first 
erected by his father, is still standing, and 
also two Cottonwood trees, which were set 
out by him and are now about the largest in 
the county. In 1S87, Mr. Parrish rented 
his farm and removed to Sterling. For four 
years he bought grain at Rock Island Junc- 
tion, where he had an elevator, and at times 
bought stock for shipment and also dealt in 
coal. Later he was out of business for one 
year, and then erected an elevator at Am- 
boy, where he engaged in the grain business 
for one year as a member of the firm of Par- 
rish & Kratz. The following year he was 
successfully engaged in business at Rock 
Falls, and then again lived retired for one 
year. On the expiration of that time, in 
1897, he purchased a laundry in Sterling, 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



177 



one of the largest in tlie city, and has al- 
ready built up an excellent trade. In most 
of his undertakings he has been einineiitly 
successful, and is to-day one of the leading 
business men of Sterling. 

On the 13th of February, 1S79, Mr. 
Parrish was united in marriage with Miss 
Florence E. Broadwell. who was born in 
Wijiona, Minnesota, a daughter of Ara and 
Irene (Hubbard) Broadwell, the father a 
native of New York. Her parents are now 
deceased. They had only two children, 
the older being Frances, deceased wife of 
Edward Gray, who with their three chil- 
dren is living in Meadow Grove, Nebraska. 
Mr. and Mrs. Parrish have two children: 
Lawrence E., born November 11, 1891; 
and Frank, born December 17, 1894. 

Six years after their marriage, Mr. and 
Mrs. Parrish went to California, where they 
spent one year on his brother's ranch, and 
vv'hile there he engaged in mining with ex- 
cellent success. When quite young he once 
made a trip to Kansas with a brother, and 
there purchased cattle which they drove 
back to Illinois and sold. Politically Mr. 
Parrish is identified with the Republican 
party, and socially is a member of the Blue 
lodge. No. 612, F. & A. M. ; the chapter. 
No. 57, R. A. M. ; Uie Modern Woodmen of 
America, No. 12; the Knights of the (jlobe. 
No. 85; and the Mystic Workers of the 
World, No. 2. As a business man and 
citizen, he stands high, and being one of 
the public-spirited and progressive men of 
the community, he gives his support to all 
measures for the public good. 



J.AMES SNYDER, a citizen of Morrison, 
who is now living retired from active 
business, was born in Canajoharie, Mont- 



gomery county. New York, December 27, 
1808, a son of Eli and Catherine (Carr) 
Snyder. He was reared on his father's 
farm at that place and educated in the com- 
mon schools of the neighborhood. On ac- 
count of failing health he was obliged to 
give up farm work at the age of twenty-two, 
and then became interested in a country 
store, being engaged in general merchandis- 
ing for twenty-three years with most ex- 
cellent success. 

During that time Mr. Snyder married 
Miss Nancy Runkle, by whom he had four 
children, namely: Mary, now Mrs. L. H. 
Robinson, of Chicago; Harriet N., widow 
of George Guffin and also a resident of 
Chicago; John H., a prominent druggist of 
Morrison; and James A., a resident of Cedar 
Ivapids, Iowa. 

In 1856 Mr. Snyder left the east and 
came to Whiteside county, Illinois, purchas- 
ing a farm two miles from Morrison, to the 
improvement and cultivation of which he 
devoted his energies for twelve 3'ears. Sub- 
sequently he rented the place and finally 
sold it. After the death of his wife, which 
occurred December 23. 1S63, he removed 
to Morrison, where he has since lived re- 
tired. 

In 1873, Mr. Snyder married Mrs. Mary 
B. Spears, /nr Purdy, who was born in New 
York and was lirst married in Ohio, to Will- 
iam Spears, who later became a member 
of the firm of Spears I^rothers, prominent 
dry-goods merchants of Morrison. Both 
Mr. and Mrs. Snyder are prominent and 
active members of the Presbyterian church, 
of which he was an elder for many years 
both in New York and during his residence 
here, being the oldest elder in this section of 
the country'. He is a strong temperance 
man and for several years past has been a 



178 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



supporter of the Prohibition part}', while his 
wife is an active member of the Woman's 
Christian Temperance Union. They receive 
and merit the respect and esteem of all who 
know them. 



GEORGE E. ELY, an honored and 
highly esteemed citizen of Sterling, 
who is now living retired, has been a resi- 
dent of this county since the fall of 1S57. 
He was born in Westernvilie, Oneida county, 
New York, November 18, 1S39, a son of 
David G. and Elvira (Wallace) Ely. The 
father was born in Massachusetts in 181 i, 
and during his boyhood removed to West- 
ernvilie with his father, who was of Revolu- 
tionary stock. The grandfather of our sub- 
ject was an early settler of Westernvilie, 
where he owned several farms, was a suc- 
cessful farmer and extensive stock dealer 
and drover. He was accidentally killed 
while on horseback some time later than 
1S60. The father of our subject grew to 
manhood in \A'esternville, and followed 
farming, dairying and stock raising there 
until his removal to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, in 
the spring of i85v5. While in that city he 
was prospecting for a location, and the fol- 
lowing year bought his first home in Hume 
township, Whiteside county, Illinois, which 
at that time was all wild prairie land. He 
erected a residence thereon and converted 
the land into well-tilled fields, being en- 
gaged in farming and stock raising there for 
some time. Eor a number of years he 
made his home west of Rock Ealls, in 
Coloma township, but he owns two farms 
in Hume township, and upon one of these 
he has resided for over a quarter of a cent- 
ury. During his active business life he 
owned a great deal of land and was ex- 



tensively engaged in farming and dealing in 
stock. He is one of the influential and 
most highly respected men of his com- 
munity, but has never been an aspirant for. 
office. He was one of the first members of 
the Methodist Episcopal church in Hume 
township, and materially assisted in the 
erection of the house of worship. His wife, 
who was also a consistent member of that 
church and class-leader for some time, died 
in 1875. Of the six child. en born to them, 
three are still living, namely: Beulah, now 
the wife of E. J. Jones, of Oshkosh, Wis- 
consin; George E., our subject; and Nancy, 
wife of Charles L. Rawson, of Rock Falls. 
Our subject began his education in the 
school of Westernvilie, New York, and later 
attended the public schools of Oshkosh, 
Wisconsin, and the seminary of Prophets- 
town, Illinois, receiving better instruction 
than most boys of his day. He aided his 
father in the work of the home farm until 
twenty-three years of age. In August, 
1 86 1, he married Miss Eliza Rawson, of 
Geneseo, Illinois, a daughter of William S. 
Rawson, who came from New York and 
was one of the pioneer settlers of Geneseo. 
Of the two children born of this union, Lula 
Lurance, principal of the shorthand depart- 
ment of the Sterling Business College; 
Frank D. attended the Sterling schools and 
in 1894 graduated from West Point Military 
Academy. For a time he was stationed on 
Governors Island as an officer in the Thir- 
teenth United States Regiment, and during 
our recent war with Spain participated in 
the battle of Santiago. For meritorious 
service he was promoted and is now a first 
lieutenant in the Second Infantry, stationed 
in Cuba. He has been in the recruiting 
service and on detailed duty during most of 
the time he has been a member of the regu- 




GEORGE E. ELY. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



i8i 



lar army. On account of his health he was 
given a three months leave of absence, dur- 
ing which time he visited Germanj'. He 
married Miss Marion Brooks, of Plainfield, 
New Jersey. 

For a few years after his marriage, Mr. 
Ely rented a farm in Hume township, and 
was at length able to purchase one hundred 
and sixty acres there, on which he erected 
a good residence and made many other im- 
provements, converting it into one of the 
finest farms of that part of the county. In 
connection with general farming, he en- 
gaged in stock raising, giving special atten- 
tion to -horses, and for some time bought 
and shipped horses quite extensively. On 
selling his first place he bought a farm in 
Hopkins township north of the river and 
continued to successfully operate it for some 
years. 

Since casting his first presidential vote 
for Abraham Lincoln, Mr. Ely has been a 
stanch supporter of the Republican party, 
and has been a delegate to county and con- 
gressional conventions. He was also con- 
tinuously in office from the time he was 
twentj'-three years of age until the ist of 
April, 1899, serving as township clerk, 
assessor, supervisor, etc. He has also been 
township treasurer and treasurer of the 
Union draining district, comprising three 
townships, the duties of which office were 
quite arduous. He was a member of the 
board of supervisors during its most pro- 
gressive epoch. In December, 1888, he 
was appointed superintendent of the White- 
side county farm and infirmarj', and filled 
that responsible position most creditably 
and satisfactorily from April i, 1889, for ten 
years. The inmates in the poor house 
numbered seventy-six and in the insane de- 
partment as high as tsventy-six, all of which 



he had charge of, in connection with the 
farm of two hundred acres. During his 
administration all of the draining and sew- 
erage was put in, and he made it a paying 
institution for the county. Previous super- 
intendents had used all the meat, butter, 
eggs, potatoes, etc., raised upon the farm, 
for the inmates, but during the last year of 
his stay there his sale of the produce above 
what was needed on the farm amounted to 
over eleven hundred dollars. He takes a 
just pride in what he accomplished there 
for the county and the people. After ten 
years of arduous labor and honest endeavor 
on the part of himself and wife, Mr. Ely 
resigned his position on the ist of April, 
1899, and is now living retired, enjoying a 
well-earned rest. He removed to Sterling, 
where he had owned property for a number 
of years, and bought a beautiful home at 
No. 208 West Third street, and deserves 
the high regard in which he is uniformly 
held. 



AD.\M SMITH, deceased, was one of the 
foremost citizens of Whiteside county 
from his early manhood until his death, and 
no one who has been called from our midst 
in late years has been more seriously 
mourned by the general community. His 
home was in Sterling for many years, and 
all local improvements were championed by 
him, his influence carrying great weight, 
as his judgments were proverbially wise and 
far-seeing. 

A native of Bavaria, Germany, Adam 
Smith was born December 9, 1834. He 
was one of six children, five sons and a 
daughter, of whom the only survivor to-day 
is John W., of Youngstown, Ohio. His 
father, Michael Smith, died when the lad 



l82 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



was younn;, and in 1846 he accompanied his 
mother, Eva, to the United States. They 
remained in New York about seven years, 
at the end of which period, Adam Smith 
came to Rocktord, Ilhnois, where he found 
employment at liis trade as a painter and 
grainer, and worked at the court-house, 
among other places. In 1859 he came to 
Whiteside county, and continued to work 
at his regular line of business, and in 1859 
lie located peimaneiitly in Sterling. Here 
he soon acquired an enviable reputation as 
a painter and business man, and by good 
management and economy laid aside a con- 
siderable amount of money. In 1875 '""^ 
purchased a farm of thirteen hundred acres, 
which, though all in one body, lay in the 
two counties of Lee and Whiteside. This 
farm he superintended successfully, raising 
great quantities of grain and much live 
stock. In 1876 he embarked in the furni- 
ture business at Sterling, but sold out at 
the end of two years. During his later 
j'ears he was interested in the real estate 
business, and at his death left a comfortable 
fortune to his family. 

In his political attitude Mr. Smith was 
a Republican. His fellow citizens, believe- 
ing in his wisdom and general ability, often 
inged him to accept public office, but he 
usually declined. He served as a justice of 
the j)eace for a perioii, at one time was city 
marshal and a school director. He was a 
director and stockholder in the Sterling 
National Bank, and was active in the estab- 
lishment of various enterprises. All indus- 
tries or measures which were calculated to 
benefit the community were furthered by 
him, and for this reason, as well as for 
many others, heis kindly remembered. 

On the 13th of October, 1863, Mr. 
Smith married Caroline Fisher, who was 



born in Trumbull county, Ohio, September 
20, 1843. Her parents, Frederick and 
Martha (Wahl) Fisher, had eight other chil- 
dren. The eldest, Catherine, became the 
wife of John W., brother of Adam Smith. 
John lives in Youngstown, Ohio. William 
died in Young.-town, Ohio, in 1893. Henry 
is a painter residing at Elgin. Mary is the 
wife of Cyrus Folson, of Youngstown, Ohio, 
and Lucy is the wife of Joseph Maubry, 
of Cleveland, Ohio. Einanuel resides in 
Youngstown, Ohio^ Sarah is the wife of 
Wendel Gaulrapp, a farmer of Hume town- 
ship, Whiteside county. She is the twin of 
Emanuel. The parents died at their old 
home in the Buckeye state. 

The union of Mr. and Mrs. Smith was 
blessed with five children. Jennie A. mar- 
ried John N. Harpham, who is engaged in 
the real estate business at Sterling, and also 
owns a market here. Anna B. died un- 
married, and Nettie L., also unmarried, re- 
sides at home. Emma A. became the wife 
of Harry H. Over, a candy manufacturer, 
and they have one son, Howard Smith. 
Carl A., the youngest child of our subject 
and wife, is at home. For about ten years 
the family resided on Broadway street, but 
after the death of Mr. S nith, his widow 
bought a lot on First avenue, and built her 
pleasant modern dwelling. Both she and 
her husband have been Lutherans in relig- 
ious faith, and have been liberal contribu- 
tors to the work of that denouiination. 
Ever ready to aid the afflicted and needy, 
the love and gratitude of many whose bur- 
dens they have lightened have been be- 
stowed upon them. To their children they 
will leave the priceless heritage of an un- 
blemished name and life-records well worthy 
of emulation. Mr. Smith died November 7, 
1893- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



183 



GEORGE E. PADDOCK, a well-known 
banker of Prophetstown, was born in 
the town of Tin-iii, Lewis count)', New York, 
March 28, 1849, and on the paternal side is 
of English descent. The family was founded 
in America by Robert Paddock, one of the 
Pilj^rims that settled at Plymouth colony in 
1634. Our subject's great-grandfather, 
Daniel Paddock, was a native of New York 
and was one of the heroes of the Revolu- 
tionary war. The grandfather, John Pad- 
dock, was also a native of the Empire state, 
and Ihe father, Chauncey Paddock, was 
born and reared in Westernville, Oneida 
county, New Y'ork. There he was united 
in marriage with Miss Lury M. Hotchkiss, 
a native of Mexico, Oswego county. New 
Y'ork, and in 1851 he brought his family 
west, locating on the Rock river, near 
Prophetstown, Whiteside county, Illinois. 
Here he engaged in agricciltural pursuits 
with marked success and was numbered 
among the enterprising farmers of the coun- 
ty. He died November 16, 1894, and was 
buried in the Prophetstown cemetery, where 
a neat and substantial monument marks his 
last resting p'ace. His wife still survives 
him, at the age of seventy-nine years, and 
makes her home in Prophetstown. 

The early education of George E. Pad- 
dock was acquired in the public schools of 
Prophetstown, and was supi)lcinented by a 
course at the Northern Illinois College, in 
Fulton. In 1870 he went to California with 
the family and spent one season on the Pa- 
cific slope. On his return to this county he 
engaged in farming until 1880, when he re- 
moved to Prophetstown and accepted the 
position of cashier in the Mattson bank, in 
which capacity he served until the death of 
Mr. Mattson, when he succeeded to the busi- 
ness. He carried on business at the old 



stand for some years, but ip 1892 he erected 
a good two-story brick building on the cor- 
ner of the main business street of the town, 
into which he moved in January, 1893. He 
does a large private banking business, and 
is accounted one of the successful business 
men of the county. 

On the 6th of May, 1873, in Prophets- 
town, Mr. Paddock was united in marriage 
with Miss Ella M. Quigley, a native of Lan- 
caster county, Pennsylvania, who in early life 
came with her family to this county and 
completed her education in the schools of 
Prophetstown. Her father, George B. Quig- 
ley, became one of the substantial farmers 
of this county, but now makes his home 
near Evansv;l!e, Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. 
Paddock have four children: Hugh, who 
now holds the position of cashier in his 
father's bank, and was married November 
21, 1S99, to Miss Cass C. Baldwin, of Proph- 
etstown, Illinois; Jessie L., who completed 
a six years' course at the Northwestern Uni- 
versity of Evanston, and was graduated 
with the class of 1899. and was married 
in October, 1899, to Oliver P. Petty, of 
Sterling, Illinois; Louis M., who is attending 
the Morgan Park Academy, and Gladys, a 
student in the home school. 

I'or some years Mr. Paddock was identi- 
fied with the Democratic party, and three 
times cast his presidential ballot for Grover 
Cleveland, but in 1896 voted for William 
McKiuley and the gold standard, and is now 
independent in politics, at local elections al- 
ways voting for the men whom he believes 
best qualified to fill the offices regardless of 
party lines. He has been school treasurer 
of Prophetstown for twenty-two years, a 
member of the town board six or seven 
years, and is now president of the same. 
Fraternally he is a Royal Arch Mason, a 



i84 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



member of the Blue lodge and chapter of 
Frophetstown, and Illinois Society Sons of 
the American Revolution. His wife is an 
active member of the Methodist Episcopal 
church. 



EDMUND JACKSON, supreme secretary 
of the benevolent order of Mystic 
Workers of the World, Fulton, Illinois, in 
which capacity he has shown his ability as 
an organizer and executive officer, was 
born May 3, 1853, in Greenbush, Rensselaer 
county. New York, and is the son of Ed- 
mund and Ann (Adams) Jackson, the former 
a native of Staffordshire, England, born Au- 
gust 26, 1820, and the latter of Hereford- 
shire, England, born August 28. 1823. They 
were married in England, August 22, 1841, 
and there five of their children were born, 
and while that country had to them many 
attractions, they felt that across the broad 
Atlantic in this free country of ours, the 
opportunity was far greater for advance- 
ment than in their old home. Believing 
that it was their duty to give their children 
the best opportunities available, they de- 
termined on emigrating, and accordingl)', 
in March, 1851, the husband and father 
came first, and selecting a temporary home 
in Greenbush, New York, sent for the 
family which arrived in August of the same 
year. 

After residing" in New York state for 
some two years, and learning of the great 
prairies of Illinois, where land could then 
be purchased for a nommal sum, in Octo- 
ber, 1853, the family came to Illinois, and 
located in Kankakee county, where the fa- 
ther and mother are yet living. On his ar- 
rival, Edmund Jackson, Sr. , secured a 
tract of land near Manteno, Kankakee 



county, where he engaged in fanning and 
stock raising until 1890, since which time 
he has lived a retired life in the village of 
Manteno. In his farming operations he 
met with the success that usually follows 
the industrious and enterprising man, and 
is now enabled to live in ease and comfort 
upon the proceeds of liis former life of toil. 
In politics he is a Republican, and in re- 
ligion is identified with the Episcopal chiirch. 
In his family were nine children, four hav- 
ing been born in America. The following 
is the record: Joseph, a farmer residing 
near Wolcott, Indiana; Thomas, who is en- 
gaged in the grain and stock business in Wol- 
cott, Indiana; Stephen, deceased; David, a 
traveling salesman making his home in 
Oakland, California; Lucy M., residing with 
her parents in Manteno, Illinois; Edmund, 
our subject; William W., residing on the 
old homestead in Kankakee count}', Illinois; 
Andrew, deceased; and George, a merchant 
of Manteno, Illinois. 

The subject of this sketch was but a 
few months old when he was brought by 
his parents to this state. On the home 
farm in Kankakee county his boyhood 
and youth were spent. In the public 
schools of Manteno, he secured a good com- 
mon-school education, and at the age of 
eighteen years engaged in teaching, a pro- 
fession that he successfully followed for five 
years in Illinois, Indiana and Kansas. His 
first business \'enture was in Searsboro, 
Iowa, where he engaged in the mercantile 
trade for two and a half jears. He then 
moved his stock to What Cheer, Iowa, and 
continued in the same line of business until 
the fall of 1881, when he sold out, and for 
the next nine years was in the real estate 
and insurance business at What Cheer. He 
was then elected president of the First Na- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ig? 



tional Bank at that place, occupjing that 
position for three and a half years. Dis- 
posing of his stock in the bank, in March. 
1894, he came to Fulton, Illinois, where 
he again engaged in ihe real estate and in- 
surance business. In the spring of 1895 
he became interested with Dr. Clendennen 
in the organization of the Mystic Workers 
of the World, since which time he has given 
much of his lime to that organization, 
a full account of which is found in this work. 
Since attaining his majority, Mr. Jackson 
has always taken an active interest in poli- 
tics, and has always given his support to 
the men and measures of the Republican 
party. By his party associates he has been 
honored with various local offices, the duties 
of which he has discharged in a satisfactory 
manner. He has served as justice of the 
peace in the different places in which he 
has resided, and in that position he has 
always acted in such an impartial manner 
as to win the praise even of contesting 
parties. While residing in What Cheer, 
Iowa, he served as a member of the school 
board and mayor of the city in all about 
twelve years. In 1896 he was elected police 
magistrate of Fulton, a position he j'et fills 
to the entire satisfaction of the people of 
the city. F"or many years he has been a 
member of the Masonic order, and while 
residing in Iowa served as grand treasurer of 
the grand lodge of the order. He now holds 
membership with Fulton lodge, No. i, M. 
W. W. ; Forest camp. No. 2, M. W. A. ; 
Fulton City lodge, No. 189, A. F. & A. M. ; 
Fulton chapter. No. 108, R. A. M.; Holy 
Cross commandery, No. 10, K. T. , Iowa; 
also a member of Kaaba Temple, Nobles 
Mystic Shrine; Abou Ben Adhem lodge. 
No. 148, I. O. O. F. , of which he is past 
grand; Knights of the Globe, M. B. A.; 



W. P. Merton chapter. No. 356, O. E. S.; 
S\l\ia lodge, No. 112, K. P., of Iowa; and 
and ii past grand treasurer, grand lodge of 
Iowa, .\. F. & A. M., and is supreme sec- 
retary of the Mystic Workers of the World. 
In each of these organizations he has taken 
an active part, and is one of the best known 
fraternity men of the state. While other 
orders have required much of his attention, 
it is to the Mystic Workers of the World that 
he has given the greatest attention, and to 
the interest taken by him, with the execu- 
tive ability shown, the great success of the 
order is due. 

On the 2rst of March, 1877, Mr. Jack- 
son was united in marriage with Miss Emma 
G. Bennett, of Eureka, Kansas, who was 
born near Xenia, Ohio, the daughter of 
Ralph and Rebecca (Hamilton) Bennett. 
They have one daughter, Una G., who is 
still living with her parents. 

While a resident of Whiteside county a 
comparatively short time, Mr. Jackson has 
become thoroughly identified with its in- 
terests, and is well known as an enterpris- 
ing and reliable business man, one who 
al\\ays keeps abreast with the times. All 
who know him hold him in the highest 
esteem. 



THE MYSTIC WORKERS OF THE 
WORLD. This fraternal benefit 
order was originally formed in 1891 and the 
preliminary steps taken for its incorpora- 
tion under the laws of Iowa by citizens of 
that state, but after the first papers had 
been executed and filed, the temporary or- 
ganization was abandoned and the forma- 
tion of the order in Illinois was undertaken. 
Fulton lodge, No. i, was organized at Fulton, 
Whiteside county, Illinois, during the year 
1892, being the first lodge of the order. 



1 86 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Verv little progress was made from this 
time until 1895, no more being done than to 
preserve the organization of the first lodge 
and attempts to organize some others which 
either failed or seceded to other orders. 

Early in 1895 Edmund Jackson was ap- 
pointed supreme secretary, who at once 
began to make a thorough investigation into 
the affairs of the order, which had become 
deeply involved, having an indebtedness 
of many times its available .assets. During 
the year its affairs were adjusted so far as 
possible and arrangements made to open up 
work in earnest for the lodge season follow- 
ing. During November, the supreme sec- 
retary employed deputies to work up the 
membership, paying them wages himself 
and started them out. The first one en- 
gaged was supreme vice- master, R. S. 
Cowan, who, on November 4th, went to 
Morrison and among the first he solicited 
and the first one he secured, was Geo. 
W. Howe, county clerk and since elected 
supreme master. With the able assistance 
of Mr. Howe, a lodge was soon organized 
■ and all connected with the order were much 
encouraged. Mr. Cowan then went to 
Sterling, where he organized a second lodge 
and from these he and the others em- 
ployed, soon secured numbers of members 
until application was made to the state in- 
surance department for a charter which was 
granted and the order legally incorporat- 
ed on February 24, 1S96. The real date 
of the founding of the order being in No- 
vember 1S95, at which time and in February, 
1896, the whole plans of the original order 
were so changed that nothing of value was 
left of it but its name. 

The work thereafter progressed with 
rapidity, the order closing the year 1896 
with 1,210 benefit members and thirty-eight 



lodges.. At the close of 1897 there were 
2,545 benefit members and eighty-one 
lodges. At the close of 1898 there were 
5,260 benefit members in one hundred and 
thirty-seven lodges, and at the close of 
September, 1899, almost ten thousand mem- 
bers in over two hundred lodges. As an- 
other indication of its rapid growth, the 
account fur postage and express for the 
month of March, 1896, the first month after 
the charter was granted, was but four dol- 
lars, while for 1899 the monthly average 
was over fifty dollars for the same purposes. 

The order issues benefit certificates for 
the amounts of $500, $1,000, $2,000 and 
$3,000, payable at death to the beneficiaries 
of the insured, being the families and 
dependent relatives. Certificates are issued 
to applicants between the ages of eighteen 
and fifty-one, either male or female, each 
having the same privileges. 

In addition to life protection for the 
benefit of the heirs of the insured, the order 
pays benefits during life to those of its 
members who meet with misfortunes. Bene- 
fits are paid in proportion to the amount of 
the certificate carried and for disabilities as 
follows: 

Amount of certificate payable at death, 
$500, $1,000, $2,000, $3,000; cash if arm 
or leg be broken, $50, $100, $200, $300; 
cash for loss of hand or foot, $125, $250, 
$500, $750; cash for loss of both hands, 
both feet or both eyes, $250, $500, $1,000, 
$1,500; cash each six months for total disa- 
bility until the certificate is paid in full, 
$25, $50, $100, $150. Any balance of the 
face value of the certificate not paid during 
life is paid to the beneficiaries at death. It 
has paid in death and disability benefits to 
October i, 1899, $65,853- '3. ol which $63,- 
503.13 was (or forty-seven death benefits 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



187 



and $5,350 was for thirty-five accidents and ter, paid by each mernber for that purpose, 

disabihty claims, thus brinj^ing comfort and and also from the profits on supplies sold to 

protection to forty-seven homes and relief lodges which are sold at a small advance 

to thirty-five disabled members in its short over the cost. Local lodges receive the 

existence up to date. initiation fees of new members for their 

The order is limited in its jurisdiction. support, and also provide such quarterly 

States lying wholly south of the thirty-eighth dues as are needed. 

parallel of north latitude being excluded, as The order has lodges in the following 

are also all cities of over 200,000 inhab- places in Whiteside county: Fulton, Ustick, 

itants, although no restriction as to travel Morrison, Sterling, Tampico, Prophetstovvn, 

or residence is placed on members. It is Lyndon, Rock Falls, Round Grove, Emer- 

thus confined to the healthiest parts of the son, Erie. Gardenplain, Fenton, Coleta, 

country. Persons who are engaged in liaz- Ptnrosc, Malvern, Montmorency, Hume, 

ardous occupations are excluded, which also Deer Grove and Albany, being in every 

tends to protect the order and reduce its town in the county. 

death rate to the minimum, which has been It is a fundamental rule of the order that 
kept down to a very low one, the greatest for the insurance department of some state in 
any year being 3. 2 5 per thousand lives at risk. which it is working shall be invited an- 
The rates of benefit assessments are nually to examine the books of the supreme 
graded according to the age of the member secretary and supreme banker. The depart- 
at the time of joining and the amount of ments of Illinois, Wisconsin and Missouri 
protection taken and remains the same have each made these examinations, and 
through life. They are based on the Ameri- have each reported the affairs of the order 
can table of expectancy, and are at the fol- to be in excellent condition. This fact is 
lowing rates per thousand, the greater or further proven to be true, for although it 
lesser amounts of certificates being at pro- has been doing business for over fort\'-four 
portionate rates: months it has called but twenty assess- 
Over 18 years of age ami under 20 years 35 meuts, which is a less number called than by 

" 20 " " " 24 " 40 a similar order before in the same time in 

2* " " " '^^ " ^'^ its history. 

" 28 " " " ;!2 " 55 

.. 32 :J6 " 65 The supreme offices are located at Ful- 

" ;J6 " " " 40 " 75 ton, where all the business of the order is 

" 40 II "I 'I 42 •• 80 transacted. 

,. ^^ „ „ ,. ^,. „ (jQ There are employed in the office of the 

" 4(5 4S ■' 95 supreme secretary, in addition to that of- 

" 48 " " " 51 " 1.00 ficer, Miss Lena \'. Snyder, daughter of 

None but those of good moral character Dr. W. C. Snyder, one of the oldest resi- 
and who can pass a rigid physical cxamina- dents of the county, and Miss Sarah E. 
tion are ailmitted, special inducements be- Worthington, daughter of Herman Worth- 
ing offered to the young and middle-aged. ington, also an old resident of the county. 
The expenses of the order are provided both of these ladies having been born in 
for by quarterly dues of fifty cents per quar- the county. 



1 



i88 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



The principal emblems of the order are 
the square, plane, balances and globes, the 
use of which as emblems of the order are 
fully explained in the ceremonies of initia- 
tion given in the ritual. 

The supreme master, George W. Howe, 
by virtue of his office, has general super- 
vision over the whole order; R. S. Cowan, 
supreme vice-inaster, conducts field work, 
while Edmund Jackson, the supreme secre- 
tary, has charge of all clerical work of the 
order, and superintends the employment of 
deputies. 

The officers of the order are as follows: 
George W. Howe, supreme master, Mor- 
rison, Illinois; R. S. Cowan, supreme vice- 
master, Fulton, Illinois; Edmund Jacksjn, 
supreme secretary, Fulton, Illinois; Al. F. 
Schoch, supreme banker, Ottawa, Illinois; 
Dr. G. W. Clendenen, supreme medical 
examiner, Fulton, Illinois; B. F. Lichten- 
berger, supreme attorney, Savanna, Illinois; 
Mrs. Clara C. Babcock, supreme conduct- 
ress, Thomson, Illinois; Mrs. Sarah M. 
Smith, supreme sentinel, Erie, Illinois; F. 
Wm. Kuebker, supreme picket, Ivanhoe, 
Illinois. Board of Directors: A. N. Ab- 
bott, Union Grove, Illinois; H. C. Blanch- 
ard, Mendota, Illinois; E. E. Fitch, Galva, 
Illinois; W. A. Cunningham, Anamosa, 
Iowa; H. H. Harris, Macomb, Illinois; 
Fred Zick, Polo, Illinois. Seven of the su- 
preme officers being located in the county, 
it will be seen that it is essentially a White- 
side county product of which the county 
may well be proud. 



WATSON C. HOLBROOIv needs no 
special introduction to the readers of 
this volume, but the work would be incom- 
plete without the record of his life. No 



man in the county has been more prominent 
identified with its growth and development 
in the last quarter of a century, and for 
twenty-one years he has most capably and 
satisfactory served as county surveyor. He 
now makes his home at No. 1102 Eighth 
avenue. Sterling. 

Mr. Holbrook is a native of the county, 
born in Genesee township, February 20, 
1S48, and traces his ancestry back to 
Thomas Holbrook, who was in the cattle 
business near Weymouth and Plymouth, 
Massachusetts, in 1640. In his family were 
four sons and from them all of the Hol- 
brooks in Massachusetts were descended. 
In the early part of the seventeenth century 
there was one of the family who was a pro- 
fessor of mathematics in Harvard College. 
The genealogy of this family can be traced 
back in England through eleven centuries. 

The founder of the family in Whiteside 
county was Henry Holbrook, the grandfa- 
ther of our subject, who was a soldier of the 
war of 1812. He came to the county in 
1838 and located a land warrant in Genesee 
township, where he died in 1842. Only 
two of his children came to this county: 
Henry H., and Elzina, wife of Ivory Col- 
cord, the first school teacher of Genesee 
township. 

Henry H. Holbrook, the father of our 
subject, was born in Cornish, New Hamp- 
shire, May 24, 181 5, and came to this 
county with his father in 1838. Although 
he learned the shoemaker's trade and 
worked at the same at times, he followed 
farming throughout the greater part of his 
life. During his entire residence in White- 
side county he lived upon the land which he 
purchased from the government. In Steu- 
ben county. New York, he was m;irried, 
April II, 1833, to Miss Caroline Ross, who 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



189 



was born in Florida, Orange county, New 
York, ^[arch 5, 1S15, and was one of a 
family of four children. She belonged to 
the old Whitney family, of New York, which 
can be traced back to the time when Queen 
Anne made an attempt to settle the new 
world. Mr. and Mrs. Holbrook made the 
journey to this county overland in 1S3S, 
arriving here in November of that year. 
Upon their farm in Genesee township they 
made their home until called to their final 
rest, the father dying January 28, 1896, the 
mother August 13, 1890. 

To this worthy couple were born ten 
children, the three eldest born in Cameron, 
Steuben county. New York, the others in 
Genesee township, this county. They were 
as follows: (i) Jane, born January 5,1834, 
is the wife of S- A. Heath, a farmer living 
near Audubon, Iowa, and they have two 
adopted children. (2) Abigail, born No- 
vember 7, 1835, married Martin Thayer, by 
whom she had ten children, five now living, 
David, Esther J., Minnie, Milton and Ran- 
som, all residents of Wisconsin. After the 
death of her first husband she married Oli- 
ver Brown, a pensioner of the Civil war and 
a resident of Richland county, Wisconsin. 
(3) John H , born May 28, 1837, was a 
member of an Iowa regiment all through the 
Civil war and is now living on a farm near 
Catlin, Washington. He married Elizabeth 
Joseph, and of their eleven children, eight are 
living, Eli, Frank H., Henry H., John H., 
James, Jesse and Elias. (4) Silas, born Etta, 
April 25, 1839, is said to be the second 
white child born in Genesee township. He 
was married, July i, 1863, to Mary E. 
Harris, bj' whom he had two children, one 
now living, Jennie M., wife of George E. 
Jones, of Waverly, Iowa. Silas joined a 

Wisconsin regiment during the Rebellion 
11 



and after serving for a time was discharged 
for disability, but he never recovered and 
died .August 30, 1866. His wife is also de- 
ceased. (5) Sarah M., born April 26, 1S41, 
married John McWilliams, of Vernon coun- 
ty, Wisconsin, and died there January 26, 
1880, leaving one child, Henry S., now a 
stationary engineer and farmer of that coun- 
ty. (6) Watson C, our subject, is the ne.xt 
in order of birth. (7) Eliza, born January 
3, 1850, is the wife of Joseph Ervvin, a 
farmer of Garwin, Iowa, and of their ten 
children, eight are living, Augustus W., a 
medical student; Harry; Mattie; George; 
Chester; James; Eva and Duffy. (8) Mary 
E., born August 28, 1S53, is the wife of 
William E. Brown, of Genesee township, 
and they have three children: Addie, wife 
of Rasper Smith, of Sterling; Jesse and 
Harry. (9) Isaac H., born March 3 i, i 855, 
lives in Coleta, and is highway commission- 
er for Genesee township. He married Al- 
mira Lenhart and has si.x children, Burt, 
Charles, Bertha, and an infant and two de- 
ceased. (10) Addie, born December 20, 
1859, is the wife of Henry Yakely, a farmer 
of Viola, Richland county, Wisconsin. 

Watson Curtis Holbrook, of this review, 
is a graduate of the Rock Island High School, 
and also of the Wisconsin University, 
where he pursued both a scientific and civil 
engineering course. On the completion of 
his education he returned to Whiteside 
county, and successfully engaged in teaching 
school for a few years in this state. In 1 878, 
one year before retiring from the teacher's 
pirofession, he was elected county surveyor, 
and has since most acceptably filled that 
office. Since he gave up te:iching he has 
devoted almost his entire time and attention 
to civil engineering. While serving as 
county surveyor he has spent much time in 



1 



190 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



the west, surveying; for railroads and locat- 
ing town site in Dakota, along the different 
railroads of the northwest. He was in 
Huron when it was a very small village, and 
in Aberdeen when it contained but one 
shanty, and has seen large herds of buffalo 
east of the Missouri river. He has done 
surveying in fifteen counties of Illinois, and 
has been called upon to settle boundary 
lines and prevent litigation of the matter if 
possible. He has made designs and sur- 
veyed for several steel and iron bridges over 
the Rock river, and for city sewers and farm 
drainage. In all his undertakings he has 
been very successful, and his labors have 
given the utmost satisfaction. At one time 
he wrote an ordinance on sanitary regula- 
tions for cities and villages, which he then 
considered correct, and the same has been 
adopted verbatim by over thirty cities and 
villages. When disputes arise over boun- 
daries his services are always in demand, 
and through him they are nearly always set- 
tled amicably. 

On the iGth of March. i8S6, Mr. Hol- 
brook married Miss Katie A. Thorp, who 
was born December 19, i860, a daughter of 
Newton and Sarah (Parrish) Thorp, and 
granddaughter of Watson Parrish. She is 
the younger in a family of two children, her 
brother being Henry E., of Marshalltown, 
Iowa. Our subject and his wife have four 
children, whose names and dates of birth 
are as follows: Ida Belle, October 7, 1887; 
Glenn Thorp, May ir, 1891; Caroline 
Blanche, August 22, 1893; fi'id Jennie 
Louisa, August 25, 1897. 

Mr. Holbrook owns fifty-one acres of 
land in Genesee township, but makes his 
home in Sterling. Politically he is a Re- 
publican, and religiously is an active and 
prominent member of the Methodist Episco- 



pal church, of Sterling, of which he is a 
trustee. Over two hundred years ago some 
of his ancestors heard the noted Dr. Whit- 
field preach, who was one of the founders 
of that denomination. While engaged in 
school teaching Mr. Holbrook devoted con- 
siderable time to studying and investigating 
the mounds found around this county, and 
he wrote many able articles on prehistoric 
man and other scientific subjects. He has 
in his possession a good collection of fossils, 
minerals and prehistoric implements, which 
he himself discovered. He also has letters 
from Darwin and other scientists thanking 
him for favors and specimens which they re- 
ceived at his hands. Of late years his in- 
creasing business has required all of his at- 
tention, and he has been compelled to give 
up his investigations along that line. For 
the past fifteen years he has compiled many 
private records of the oldest families of 
Genesee township, and his researches have 
extended far back, tracing the genealogy of 
these families through several generations 
in the old country. He is widely known 
throughout the northern part of the state, 
and is highly respected by all with whom he 
comes in contact. 



D 



AVID W. WARD, M. D., a leading 
physician of Fulton, who is not only 
engaged in the practice of medicine in Ful- 
ton, Illinois, but is also prominently identi- 
fied with the business interests of the place, 
was born in the Dominion of Canada, De- 
cember 5, 1856, and is a son of Thomas 
Ward and Mary (Mark) Ward, natives of 
England, the former born at Lythe, near 
Witbany, Yorkshire, January 29, 1820, the 
latter in Cumberland Caterlin, near Penrith, 
in October, 1S88. They were married in 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



lyi 



Canada. The father is also a physician and is 
enf^aged in practice in Richelieu, Quebec, 
where he has served as mayor and as alder- 
man several years. In his family were 
eleven children, eiglit of who:n reached 
years of maturity. Our subject has a 
brother in Montreal, Joseph Ward, who is 
a prominent business man in that city, of 
the firm of Joseph Ward & Company. 

Dr. Ward, of this review, was reared in 
Canada, and pursued a classical course at 
St. John's Academy. At the age of eight- 
een, he went to St. Albans, Vermont, where 
he was time-keeper for carpenters for the 
Vermont Central Railroad for two years. 
Returning home for a short time he entered 
the medical department of Magill Universi- 
ty, where he was a student for one year, 
and then matriculated at Haiinemann Medi- 
cal College, Chicago, from which he gradu- 
ated with the degree of M. D., February 
16, I 888. .After one year spent in practice 
in that cily, he came to Fulton, in Febru- 
ary, 1889, and as tha only representative 
of the Homeopathic school in the place, he 
has built up an excellent practice. He has 
given particular attention to the study of 
diseases of women and children, and makes 
that his specialty. He holds certificates for 
practice in both Iowa and Illinois, and has 
man)' patients in the former state, besides 
those in and around Fulton. He is medical 
examiner for the Iowa Life Insurance Com- 
pany, for the accident insurance depart- 
ment of the Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows, the Fraternal Union of .America, 
and the Federal Life Association of Daven- 
port, Iowa. 

Dr. Ward is thoroughly identified in 
thought and feeling with the interests of 
Fulton, and has aided in her upbuilding 
and advancement. He purchased a block 



between Cherry and Broadway street, which 
he subdivided and sold half, and erected 
thereon four good residences. Since 1896 
he has been a director of the Fulton Elect- 
ric Light & Power Company, and smce 
1898 has been vice-president of the same. 
He is a member of the Rock River Homeo- 
pathic Society; was for some time medical 
e.xaminer for the Modern Woodmen of 
America, and is now medical examiner for 
the Mystic Workers of the World, of which 
he is a member. He also belongs to Abou 
Ben Adhem lodge, No. 148, I. O. O. F., 
and is an active and prominent member of 
the Methodist Episcopal church, in which 
he is now serving as a member of the board 
of trustees. He is rather independent in 
politics, but usually supports the Repub- 
lican party. He is ?.ctively interested in 
educational matters, and in 1892 was elect- 
ed a member of the board of trustees of the 
Northern Illinois College, of which he has 
been secretary of the board since 1893. 

On the 5th of December, 1877, in Car- 
roll county, Illinois, Dr. Ward was united 
in marriage with Miss Dora Bashaw, a na- 
tive of that county and a daughter of Will- 
iam 15ashaw and Euphrasia (Thomas) 
Bashaw. The father, who was a promi- 
nent and successful farmer of that county, 
died in April, 1883. The Doctor and his 
wife iia\'e three children: Netta M., Ada 
M. and Joseph J., all at home except Netta, 
who is attending Hahnemann Medical Col- 
lege and Hospital, Chicago, Illinois. 



FR.WK B. THOMAS is a contractor and 
inukier of Tampico, of whose skill 
many notable examples are to be seen in 
the town and surrounding country. Thor- 
oughly reliable in all thmgs, the quality of 



192 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



his work is a convincing test of his own 
personal worth and the same admirable 
trait is shown in his conscientious discharge 
of the duties of different positions of trust 
and responsibility to which he has been 
chosen. 

A native of Whiteside county, Mr. 
Thomas was born in Sterling, May 20, 1857, 
and is a son of Henry and Hannah (Nor- 
ton) Thomas, both natives of Massachu- 
setts, where they were married. The fa- 
ther was born in 1812, and in early life fol- 
lowed the carpenter's and joiner's trade in 
Massachusetts and New York. Coming 
west in 1844, he settled in Sterling, White- 
side county, Illinois, but spent the follow- 
ing winter at his trade in St. Louis. He 
then returned to Sterling and sent for his 
family, who joined him at that place. There 
he successfully engaged in contracting and 
building for many years, but now, after a 
long and beneficial career, is living retired 
with our subject in Tampico. His wife 
died in May, 1891. 

Reared in Sterling, Frank B. Thomas 
was educated in the schools of that city. 
After finishing the liigh school course, he 
learned the carpenter's trade with his fa- 
ther, and worked with him in Sterling for 
about three years. On the 29th of May, 
1879, in Tampico, he was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Ida M. Bullock, a native of 
Winnebago county, Illinois, and a daughter 
of R. M. Bullock, now a retired resident of 
Tampico. Mrs. Thomas was reared and 
educated in Sterling and was graduated 
from the high school of that place. By 
her marriage to our subject she has be- 
come the mother of three children: Mabel 
A., and Asael, all of whom who are at- 
tending school, and Alfred is also clerking 
in a grocery store. 



After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. 
Thomas located on a farm near Tampico, 
where he engaged in agricultural pursuits 
for about eighteen years, at the same time 
working at his trade. For the last eight 
years he has been engaged in contracting 
and building on his own account, and has 
erected numerous houses and barns in this 
part of the county. Renting his farm in 
1899, he removed to Tampico, where he 
bought a lot and built a residence for his 
own use. Although at the beginning of his 
business career, he received no financial 
aid, he has steadily prospered, owing to his 
industry, perseverance and good executive 
ability, and is now the owner of a good 
farm of eighty acres in Tampico township 
besides his property in the village. 

Mr. Thomas cast his first presidential 
vote for Rutherford B. Hayes, and has 
never faltered in his allegiance to the Re- 
publican party. He has taken quite an act- 
ive and prominent part in local politics; has 
been a member of the school board and 
clerk of the district for some years; and in 
1S98 was elected supervisor of Tampico 
township. As a member of the honorable 
county board, he is now serving on the 
judiciary committee and committee of mis- 
cellaneous claims. Fraternally he is a prom- 
inent member of the Modern Woodmen 
Camp of Tampico, where he is serving as 
venerable consul; and is also supreme judge 
of the Knights of the Globe at that place. 
He and his wife hold membership in the 
Baptist Church of Tampico, and he has 
filled the office of deacon for about ten 
years. 

THOMAS L. EASTIN, foreman of the 
nickel and polishing department of the 
Mississippi Valley Stove Works, at Fulton, 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



193 



Illinois, is at the head of one of the most 
important divisions of the place in which he 
is employed. The polishing and plating, 
and burnishings of platings for the high grade 
base burners, ranges and stoves manufact- 
ured by this company is a very particular 
work, each article going through different 
baths, first the potash dip, after which the 
scouring with pomace stone; then an acid 
bath, and a rinsing in clear water; then 
after the electroplating bath in a hot water 
bath; then in the buffing room the fine Uls- 
ter that is a distinguishing feature is given; 
and after these processes are finished comes 
a washing in a specially prepared compound, 
then the drying in sawdust. The castings 
are prepared for grinding by a bath in hy- 
dro-fluoric acid, and are then heated with 
lime to neutralize the acid. All of this 
labor is performed under the supervision of 
Mr. Eastin, who thoroughly understands 
every detail of the work, having had much 
experience therein. 

He was born September 11, 1862, at 
Louisville, Iventucky, a son of Thomas N. 
Eastin, and a grandson of Zachariah Eastin, 
a soldier of the war of 1812. His great- 
grandfather Eastin was a man of note in 
his day, and had the distinction of being the 
first Unitarian minister to cross the mount- 
ains into Kentucky. 

Thomas N. Eastin was born and bred in 
Paris, Bourbon county, Kentucky, his birth 
occurring in 181 5. He spent his early life 
in his native place, and he and his brothers 
laid out many of the principal roads and 
pikes of the state. Later they engaged in 
milling at Spottsylvania, Kentucky, on the 
Green river. The father spent his last years 
as a real estate dealer and claim agent, car- 
rying on a large and successful business. 
He was a stanch Democrat in politics, a 



Master Mason, and a faithful member of the 
Unitarian church. He was twice married, his 
first wife having been Penelope Churchill, a 
daughter of Judge O. Churchill, of Eliza- 
beth, Kentucky. She died in early woman- 
hood, leaving one child, the Rev. Churchill 
Eastin, pastor of the Episcopal church, at 
Washington, D. C. On November 27, 
1 866, he married Annie E. Pilcher, daugh- 
ter of \V. S. and Dolly (Fisher) Pilcher. 
Her father was for some time associated in 
business with General Humphey, at one 
time mayor of the city of Louisville, and 
was very prominent in public life, having 
stumped the state three different times, and 
once received the nomination for lieutenant- 
governor. By this marriage si.x children 
were born, naniel}': Henry S., engaged in 
the brass foundry at Louisville; Thomas L , 
the special subject of this sketch; Robert 
N., a resident of Fulton, is engaged with 
his brother in the stove works; and three 
children that died in childhood. 

Thomas L. Eastin completed his early 
education in the high school of Louisville, 
Kentucky, and at the age of fifteen years 
entered upon an apprenticeship with J. B. 
Williamson & Company, of that city, found- 
ers ari'd finishers of fine brass work, the 
senior member of the firm being the first 
person to introduce fine etching in brass 
works. At the end of three years he ac- 
cepted a position with Bridgeford & Com- 
pany, with whom he remained eleven years, 
nine years of the time being foreman of the 
polishing and plating department. Going 
thence to Evansville, Indiana, he managed 
the business of the W. F. Schaffer estate 
for a year, doing plating and finishing in 
gold, silver, nickel, brass, bronze, etc. He 
subsequently spent a few months in St. 
Louis, Missouri, with the Central Union 



194 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Brass Works, and was afterwards employed 
in the same city for five years in the factory 
of Bridge, I5each & Company, the largest 
stove works west of the Mississippi river, 
and from there went to the Belle Hickey 
Manufacturing Company to take charge of 
their polishing and plating department, the 
firm manufacturing chandeliers. After he 
had been there seven months he was offered 
the fine position he now holds, and on April 
3, 1896, came to Fulton to assume its re- 
sponsibilities. His fitness for the place is 
amply recognized by the satisfactory work 
he has accomplished. 

Mr. Eastin was married. May 5, 188S, 
at Jeffersonville, Indiana, to Lucy F. Wat- 
son, daughter of John and Sarah (Story) 
Watson, of Louisville, Iventucky. Mr. 
Watson was twice married, and by his first 
union had eight children, of whom six are 
now living, namely: Lucy F. , now Mrs. 
Eastin; Ida M., wife of J. H. Morton, of 
Chicago; Julia, wife of Alfred Cornell, of 
Louisville, Kentucky; Annie L. ; William 
H. ; and Ambrose. By his second mar- 
riage, Mr. Watson has one son, Estes. In 
politics Mr. Eastin supports the principles 
promulgated by the Republican party. His 
mother has made her home with him and 
his wife since the death of her husband, 
March 16, 1SS4. 



THOMAS NOON. Among the well-to-do 
and successful farmers of Whiteside 
coimty, who have accumulated a compe- 
tency through their own exertions and econ- 
omy, and who carry on their chosen calling 
in a most commendable manner, is the sub- 
ject of this biographical notice, who resides 
on section 30, Tampico township. He 
came to that county in 1874, and since then 



he has through his own unaided efforts 
achieved success, becoming the owner of a 
fine farm of two hundred and eighty acres 
in Tampico and Prophetstown township. 

Mr. Noon was born in Warwickshire, 
England, January 2, 1853, a son of Charles 
Noon, Sr., whose sketch appears on another 
page of this volume. In his native land our 
subject grew to manhood, but as he com- 
menced work at the early age of seven years, 
his educational advantages were necessarily 
limited. In 1874, with his father and the 
other members of the family, he boarded a 
steamer at Liverpool and sailed for the new 
world. After thirteen days spent upon the 
broad Atlantic they landed in Quebec, Can- 
ada, whence they proceeded at once to 
Whiteside county, Illinois. Here our sub- 
ject worked as a farm hand by the month 
for five years. 

On the 19th of December, 18S2, in this 
county, Mr. Noon was united in marriage 
with Miss Ora L. Coats, who was born, 
reared and educated in Ohio. Her father, 
Jeremiah Coats, was a leading lawyer of 
Gallia county, that state, and her brother, 
Professor C. T. Coats, is a prominent edu- 
cator of Ohio, now at the head of Carlton 
College. Mr. and Mrs. Noon have four 
children: Lilliam May, John S., Earl T. 
and Benjamin F. 

For one year after his marriage, Mr. 
Noon operated rented land, and then pur- 
chased eighty acres of his present farm, to 
which he added five years later another 
eighty-acre tract, and still later one hun- 
dred and twenty acres. He has made many 
valuable and useful improvements upon the 
place, has placed the land under excellent 
cultivation, and now has one of the best 
farms in the neighborhood. 

In his political affiliations Mr. Noon was 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



195 



formerly a Democrat, but in 1S96 supported 
William McKinley for the presidency. He 
takes quite an active interest in educational 
affairs and for five years has served asschool 
director in his district. With his wife and 
two older children, he holds membership in 
the Christian church of Yorktown, and is 
now one of the trustees of the church, while 
socially he is a Master Mason and a mem- 
ber of the Modern Woodmen camp of 
Tampico. His honorable, upright life com- 
mends him to the confidence of all with 
whom he comes in contact either in business 
and social affairs, and his circle of friends 
seems only limited by his circle of acquaint- 
ances. 



JACOB D. WILBUR, an honored citizen 
of Sterling, has been numbered among 
our representative business men for close 
onto two score years, during all of this 
time having been active in the promotion 
of all local enterprises. His course in life 
has been eharacterized by integrity and up- 
rightness, and such material prosperity as 
he enjoys has come to him by honest labor. 
Henry Wilbur, the paternal grandfather 
of our subject, was of English descent. He 
was one of the first settlers in Wayne 
county, New York, going to that locality 
from Massachusetts. His uncle, Isaac Wil- 
bur, enlisted as a soldier in the war of 
1812, and received wounds in one of the 
engagements in wliich he participated. 
George Wilbur, father of our subject, was 
born in Macedon, Wayne county. New 
York, in 1894, and his elder brother, Jere- 
miah, was the first white child born in the 
township where the family resided. He 
died at the age of twenty-one years. Amy 
P. , the only sister, became the wife of L. 



P. Hoag, and died at her home in Michigan. 
George Wilbur, who was a successful farm- 
er, died on the 28th of June, 1S63, and was 
survived a few years by his wife (formerly 
Elizabeth Pattison), whose death occurred 
in June, 1S70. 

The birth of J. D. Wilbur occurred in 
Macedon, New York, April 22, 1833. In 
his youth he learned the millwright's trade, 
and having purchased a farm with the pro- 
ceeds of his toil, he continued to attend to 
its cultivation for several years. This prop- 
erty did not leave his possession until a few 
years ago, when he sold it. On the i6th 
of December, 1863, he arrived in White- 
side county, since which date he has made 
his home in Sterling. For two years he 
was engaged in the grocery business, and 
then turned his attention to carpentering, 
following that pursuit, and executing work 
on contracts, for many years. At different 
times he owned town property and Mich- 
igan land, being quite successful in his 
real estate ventures. 

In 1853, Mr. Wilbur was united in mar- 
riage to Mary A. Green, in Victor, New 
York. She was born twenty years before, 
near Mount Clemens, Michigan, a daughter 
of Rice and Phcebe Green, who were na- 
tives of Otsego county. New York. In 
1864 they removed to Ogle county, Illinois; 
where the father carried on a farm for 
some years, later retiring and making his 
home in Rochelle, Illinois, until his death. 
His widow, after a few years, came to live 
with her daughter, Mrs. Wilbur, and here 
she died in 1S71. 

The eldest child 01 our subject and wife, 
George R. , married May Coons, and resides 
in Winchester, Illinois. He has two sons, 
Percy and George Devore. Jeremiah J. 
was the second of our subject's children. 



196 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Mary Ida, wife of W. S. Pattison, of Kala- 
mazoo, Michigan, has one daughter. May. 
Julia is the wife of H. L. Norwood, a Chi- 
cago printer, and their three children are, 
Cecil, Wilbur and Elizabeth. William E. , 
whose home is at Clinton, Iowa, married 
Celesta Ellerston, and their children are 
named William E. and Celesta. 

In his early manhood, Mr. Wilbur took 
quite a prominent part in the local affairs 
and politics of his own community, but since 
coming to the west he has contented him- 
self with voting for the candidates and 
measures of the Democratic party. Mrs. 
Wilbur, who is a lady of good education 
and social attainments, is a member of the 
Congregational church. 



GEORGE W. CLENDENEN, M. D., 
supreme medical examiner for the Mys- 
tic Workers of the World, an insurance 
order which he has the honor of organizing, 
is the seventh son of Robert A. and Amanda 
(Hinchman) Clendenen, and was born in 
Boone county, Virginia, now West \'ir- 
ginia, December 4, 1844. He is distantly 
related to ex- Postmaster-General Wilson, 
General Lew Wallace and ex-Comptroller 
of the Treasuiy Eckles. The family moved 
from Virginia to Cass county, Michigan, in 
March, 1847, at which time the country 
was comparatively new and covered with 
heavy forests which required a great deal of 
labor in removing before the soil was ready 
for tilling. Purchasing a farm, the father 
commenced the work of clearing and im- 
proving it, but sickness overtook him in 
about two years after making the purchase, 
and he died of flux, leaving a large family 
of children with a widowed mother. Dur- 
ing his sickness, three of his daughters also 



died of the same disease, the older one, 
Mary Ann, being about nineteen years old, 
while the other two were two and four years 
old, respectively. The death of the four all 
occurred within four weeks' time. George 
was now but six years old. 

Through the energy, perseverance and 
determination of the mother, the family 
were all kept together, and by the assistance 
of the older boys, the younger ones were 
cared for until they were able to care for 
themselves. During this period the facili- 
ties for an education were very meager in 
that wild and new country, but the subject 
of this narrative attended the common dis- 
trict school summer and winter until he was 
large enough to work on the farm in the 
summer months, after which time he at- 
tended school in the winter. With a stead- 
fast determination to succeed he pursued his 
studies until he secured such an education 
as enabled him to teach in the common 
schools of the county. By teaching winters, 
he procured money enough to attend the 
graded schools at Niles, Michigan, during 
the summer. After leaving the graded 
schools, in the winter of 1861 he taught a 
district school in Berrien county, Michigan, 
at the low rate of twenty dollars per month. 
The following winter he was urged to teach 
a larger and more advanced school in an ad- 
joining district at a salary of fifty-five dol- 
lars per month, and accepted the situation. 
After this he taught in various schools in 
Berrien and Cass counties for several years, 
giving good satisfaction to his patrons. 

In the fall of 1868 our subject went to 
Tuscumbia, Alabama, where he engaged in 
the mercantile business for one year, after 
which he accepted a position as principal of 
the Decatur, Alabama, schools for one year. 
He followed the profession of teaching in 




G. W. CLENDENEN, M. D. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



199 



winters, and workinj^ on farms in summers, 
for some years, and then secured a position 
as traveling salesmen for a firm in Niies, 
Michigan. While traveling, his spare mo- 
ments were spent in reading medicine, hav- 
ing decided to take up the medical profes- 
sion as his life work. He traveled for five 
years, at the expiration of which time he at- 
tended lectures in the Bennett Medical Col- 
lege, Chicago, from which institution, after 
taking a thorough course, he graduated in 
1SS4, having an average of one fiundred in 
all branches of study. 

Soon after his arrival in Tuscumbia, 
Alabama, Dr. Clendenen was united in 
marriage with Miss Ellen A. Ferris, who 
had settled in that city with her parents 
some two months previous to his arrival. 
They were married January 15, 1869, by 
Rev. Joseph H. Shackelford, pastor of the 
Baptist church, Tuscumbia. The}' remained 
in that city until in September, 1869, when 
they moved to Decatur, Alabama, that he 
might take charge of the school there, as 
already mentioned. After leaving Decatur, 
they moved to Dowagiac, Michigan. 

Ellen A. (F"erris) Clendenen was the 
daughter of Edwin W. and Jane D. (Lee) 
Ferris, whose family history traces back to 
the Lawsons and Fitzgeralds. After more 
than twenty-five years of wedded life, she 
was stricken with an internal cancer, and on 
May 18. 1895, died from the effects of that 
terrible disease, and her remains were in- 
terred in the cemetery at Fulton. She was 
the mother of four children, two of whom 
died in infanc)'. Eddy, the only son, died 
of tx'phoid fever in Fulton, Illinois, in 1885. 
Katherine G., the only child li\ing, resides 
with her father. 

For his second wife Dr. Clendenen mar- 
ried Miss Mae Eno Hoover, who was born 



in Ustick township, Whiteside county, 
Illinois, and theyoimgest daughter of H. H. 
and Mary A. Hoover, who were natives of 
Pennsylvania. 

In 1873 Dr. Clendenen located in Fulton 
and in 1877 began the practice of his profes- 
sion, and it was but a short time before his 
skill as a physician was well attested and his 
practice began to grow. He has now been a 
resident of the city for twenty-six years, and 
his practice is a large and satisfactory one. 
Since coming to the place he has held the 
position of head physician of the Modern 
Woodmen of America, and during Cleve- 
land's administration he was examining sur- 
geon for soldiers' pensions, serving in both 
positions with distinction and honor until 
his term e.xpired. 

Soon after graduating in medicine. Dr. 
Clendenen became convinced that the treat- 
ment of cancer was not what it ought to be 
in this day and age, and being convinced 
that cancer was a local disease he sought to 
find a remedy that would virtually do away 
with the use of the knife on all such cases. 
Knowing the plaster to be far superior to 
the knife, he sought to improve upon the 
plaster by procuring a medicine that he 
could use with a hypodermic needle. After 
thorough investigation and trial of his new 
preparation, it proved to be far better than 
he at first anticipated, as the new remedy 
proved successful in several cases where the 
knife and the plaster had both failed. It 
can be truthfully said that Dr. Clendenen 
was the first person to successfully use the 
hypodermic needle in the cure of this loath- 
some disease. Other physicians that have 
used his treatment utterly refuse to use any 
other method, as it is by far the best remedy 
and treatment that has been brought before 
the medical fraternity. 



200 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Dr. Clendenen is now the supreme med- 
ical examiner of the Mystic Workers of the 
World, of which organization he is the 
founder. At the present time the headquar- 
ters of the order are at Fulton, Illinois, and 
the order is one of the best of its kind in 
existence. It was founded in 1S91, the Doc- 
tor writing the ritual and laws suitable for 
lodge work. At present the membership of 
the order is about twelve thousand, and it 
is growing rapidly. 

The Doctor has always been somewhat 
active in politics, and a firm believer in the 
Jeffersonian doctrine, he is a stanch Demo- 
crat. He is bitterly opposed to tariffs and 
trusts, believing all such to be inimical to 
the best interests of the people. In religion 
he is liberal. 

On his mother's side the Doctor is related 
to Comtnodore Perry of Lake Erie fame, 
his grandmother being a Perry. His broth- 
ers and sisters were Oscar P., Marj- Ann, 
William I., Martin Van Buren, John F., 
David K., Andrew Irving, Martha Ann and 
Sarah Jane. Of those now living William 
I. resides on a farm near Dowagiac, Mich- 
igan; John Floyd is in the practice of med- 
icine at LaSalle, Illinois; while Andrew Irv- 
ing is also in the practice of medicine, his 
home being in Maywood, Illinois. 

Fraternally, Dr. Clendenen has been a 
Master Mason for manyj'ears, and has filled 
nearly all the chairs in the blue lodge. He 
is a charter member of Sunlight lodge, No. 
137, K. P.; a charter member of Forest 
camp, No. 2, M. W. A.; a member of the 
Knights of the Maccabees; the American 
Benefit Society; the Woodmen of the World; 
and Fraternal Brotherhood. These are in 
addition to the Mystic Workers of the 
World, of which mention has been made. 
He is editor of the " Mystic Worker," the 



official organ of the order. The Doctor is 
now medical health officer of Fulton. As a 
ph\sician the Doctor has been quite success- 
ful, and his ability is recognized by all. As 
a citizen he is ever ready to do his part in 
everything that will tend to the advancement 
of his city and county, and therefore he has 
many friends who esteem him for his worth 
as a man and physician. 



GEORGE P. RICHMOND. The sub- 
ject of this biography, one of the 
honored sons of Massachusetts, and a most 
distinguished farmer and stock dealer resid- 
ing on section 35, Prophetstown township, 
is pre-eminently a self-made man. He 
began life with a definite purpose in view, 
has worked faithfully, honestly, and with a 
will for its accomplishment, and is now one 
of the wealthiest, as well as one of the 
most highly respected citizens of his com- 
munit}-. 

Mr. Richmond was born in Berkshire 
county, Massachusetts, October 24, 1827, 
and there grew to manhood, his education 
being acquired in the district schools near 
his early home. Thinking to better his 
financial condition in the west, he came to 
Illinois in 1S49, traveling by railroad to 
Buffalo, by the Great Lakes to Chicago, 
and overland to Whiteside county, where he 
arrived in April, of that year. He spent 
some time in prospecting in this state and 
Wisconsin, but finally returned to his county 
in August and entered one hundred and 
sixty acres of land in Prophetstown town- 
ship, upon which not a furrow had been 
turned nor an improvement made. During 
his entire residence here he has devoted 
considerable attention to stock raising, his 
first purchase consisting of sixty head of cat- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



20I 



tie. He soon bought another farm adjoin- 
ing the first, upon which a log house had 
been erected, and into it he mnved. 
The first season spent here, he, him- 
self mowed with a scythe enough hay to 
feed sixty head of cattle during the winter. 
He also split the rails to fence his stock 
yard. His first home here later gave place 
to a good frame residence, which was com- 
pleted in iS6o. 

For the first few years of his residence 
here Mr. Richmond boarded with a family 
who lived in his house, but on the 22d of 
February, i860, he was united in marriage 
with Miss Cevilla Gage, a daughter of Ed- 
ward S. Gage, one of the pioneers of the 
county, who located here in 1S35. Mrs. 
Richmond was born and reared in White- 
side county, and died in June, 1879, her re- 
mains being interred in Prophetstown cem- 
etery, where a monument now marks her 
last resting place. Three children were 
born of that union, namely: Mary, wife of 
Charles Passmore, a business man of Ful- 
ton, Illinois; John, who, with his wife and 
two children, resides on the home farm, 
and Harry, who is married and engaged in 
farming in this county. 

A thorough and skillful farmer and an 
excellent business man, Mr. Richmond's 
efforts have been crowned with success, and 
he is now the owner of about eighteen hun- 
dred acres of valuable and well improved 
land, divided into three farms, one of which 
consists of four hundred and eighty acres 
lying south of the railroad in Prophetstown 
township. Of late years he has fattened 
for the market as high as three hundred 
head of cattle per year. In 1877 he began 
breeding and dealing in standard bred 
horses in a small way. having previous to 
this time raised roadsters and draft horses, 



and he is now one of the largest breeders 
and dealers of high class stock in this sec- 
tion of the state, keeping on hand about 
one hundred head of horses, and selling 
each year from twenty to forty head. He 
has raised some very valuable horses, hav- 
ing sold some of his young stock as high as 
five and si.\ hundred dollars. To his own 
well-directed efforts may be attributed his 
SUCC3SS in life, for on coming to the county 
his capital was limited, but he has made the 
most of his advantages and has been uni- 
formly successful in his business ventures. 
Politically he is a stanch Republican, and, 
as every true American citizen should, he 
takes a deep and commendable interest in 
public affairs, supporting all measures which 
he believes will prove of public benefit. 
For some years he was an efficient mem- 
ber of the school board. He has never 
cared for political honors, preferring to give 
his undivided attention to his extensive 
business interests. 



JOHN H. SNYDER was born in Argus- 
k-J ville, Schoharie county. New York, 
August 16, 1S40, and is a son of James 
Snyder, whose sketch appears elsewhere in 
this volume. His early education was ac- 
quired in the schools of his native state, and 
at the age of fifteen years he accompanied 
his parents on their removal to Illinois, lo- 
cating on a farm two miles south of Morri- 
son. He then attended school at Union- 
ville, and later was a student at Galesburg 
Academy, being at the latter place when 
the railroad was built through the county. 
Coming to Morrison in 1857 he entered the 
store of Spears Brothers as clerk and there 
obtained his first knowledge of business. 
At that time a bank report had to be ex- 



202 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



amined every time a bill was taken in and 
most of them discounted and sent to Chicago 
every night. There was no small change in 
the country and when needed by the mer- 
chants, shoestrings and other articles were 
used. Later they used stamps until the 
government stopped them and issued script 
that passed in this section. 

Mr. Snyder continued clerking for four 
years and then beame a partner in the busi- 
ness, with which he was connected as a mem- 
ber of the firm of Spears Brothers & Com- 
pany for the same length of time. On sever- 
ing his connection with that firm he formed a 
partnership with his brother, Jamss A. Sny- 
der, and engaged in the dry goods business at 
Clarence, Iowa, then a new town, forty 
miles west of Clinton, After eight years of 
successful business at that place our subject 
returned to Morrison and opened a dry goods 
and also a grocery store on Main street, be- 
ing still in partnership witli his brother, who 
remained in charge of the store at Clarence. 
The enterprise proved successful and Mr. 
Snyder conducted both stores at Morrison 
until iSSS when he closed out the business 
after having been connected witii the dry 
goods trade for twenty-nine years and ten 
months. He then remo\ed to Kansas City, 
where in connection with Judge Ramsay and 
a Mr. Parker, he engaged in loaning money 
for a year, but at the end of that time re- 
turned to Morrison and about a j ear later 
became interested in the drug business, buy- 
ing a stock of drugs with A. R. Lewis as the 
practical druggist. Business is now carried 
on under the firm name of J. H. Snyder & 
Company and they have the leading drug 
store in the city. They erected their own 
building, which is especially adapted to the 
drug trade, is ninety feet deep on Main 
street, and the second floor is arranged for 



offices. Besides a well selected stock of 
drugs, patent medicines, etc., they carry 
paints, books, papers, etc., and enjoy a 
large and tlourishing trade. 

In July, 1867, Mr. Snyder was united in 
marriage with Miss Mary Furlong, a daugh- 
ter of John Furlong, who was connected 
with the construction of th; Northwestern 
railroad and came to Morrison on one of 
the first trains- run into the city. He was 
from Cattaraugus county. New York. Mr. 
and Mrs. Snyder have two children: Jessie, 
now the wife of J. A. Anguish, of Morrison; 
and Alleyne, wife of H. A. Boyd, of Morri- 
son, by wliom she has one daughter, Kathryn. 
Mrs. Snyder is a member of the Presbyte- 
rian church, which her husband also attends 
and supports. He is a stanch Republican 
in politics but has never been an aspirant 
for office, and is a member of Dunlap lodge. 
No. 321, F. & A. M. 



LEWIS C. ARNETT, an active, enter- 
prising agriculturist of Portland town- 
ship, owns and occupies a well-improved 
farm of two hundred acres, on section 27, 
Spring Hill. A life-long resident of this 
township, he was born December iS, 1842, 
a son of the late Jacob Arnett. His paternal 
grandfather, Louis Arnett. spent the eatlier 
part of his life in his native country, France, 
where he served under Napoleon, but died 
in Henry comity, Illinois, whither he 
emigrated with his family in 1827. 

Jacob Arnett, born in France in 1815, 
came with his parents to America, and until 
1836 lived in Pennsylvania. Coming then 
to Whiteside county as a pioneer, he pre- 
enrpted one hundred and si.xty acres of land 
in Portland township, on which he settled. 
A man of industry and thrift, he prospered 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD, 



203 



in his undertakings, and ere he gave up 
active work was the owner of at least 
eight hundred acres of good land. He sub- 
sequently removed to Getieseo, Illinois, 
where he lived retired until his death, in 
May, 1899, at the venerable age of eighty- 
four years. In the winter of 1841, after 
living in Portland township nearly live years, 
he returned to Pennsylvania for his bride, 
and there married Charlotte Somniers, who 
was born in Germany. She preceded him 
to the better land, passing away in August, 
1881. Of their children seven grew to 
mature life, Lewis C. being the eldest. 

Lewis C. Arnett grew to manhood on 
the parental homestead, which adjoins his 
own, and in its management ably assisted 
his father. In the days of his youth he 
obtained a good common-school education, 
and a practical knowledge of the various 
branches of agriculture. On attaining his 
majority he began farmirg on his own 
account, taking charge of his uncle's estate. 
In 1866 he purchased one hundred and 
twenty acres of his present propert}-, and 
has since bought eighty acres of adjoining 
land. In the care and improvement of this 
he has shown excellent judgment, and made 
the best of every opportunity for advance- 
ment in his chosen calling. He has made 
improvements of a substantial character, 
including the building of a convenient house 
and fine barn, and is carrying on farming 
after the most approved modern methods. 
He also pays much attention to stock rais- 
ing and dealing, making a specialty of hogs, 
having some valuable pure-blood Poland- 
Chinas. During the year he feeds and fat- 
tens for market one car-load of cattle and 
two car-loads of hogs, an industry that has 
proved quite profitable. 

On September 6, 1868, Mr. Arnett mar- 



ried Miss Sarah Roos, who was born and 
educated in Henry county, a daughter of 
Martin Roos, for many years a prominent 
member of the farming community of that 
part of the state, but who is now living, at 
the advanced age of eighty-three years, 
retired from active life, in Geneseo. Of 
their union eight children liave been born, 
as follows: Clara, wife of Augustus Weberg; 
Stacey, who assists in the care of the home 
farm, and belongs to the Masonic order and 
is tyler at the present time; Leroy. a farmer, 
is married, resides in this count}', and in 
politics follows his father; Ida; Agnes; Min- 
nie; Maud, and Harlan. Politically Mr. 
Arnett is a steadfast Republican, and since 
casting his -first presidential ballot, in 1864, 
for Abraham Lincoln, has voted once in 
four 3'ears for the nominee of the Republican 
party. He is an active participant in all 
local elections, and though he has never 
sought office, was elected, and served for 
one year, as constable. He is earnestly in- 
terested in the public schools, and has 
served a number of terms on the school 
board. At the present time he is one of 
the township trustees, an offics which he is 
filling most acceptably to all concerned. 
Fraternally he is a Master Mason, and a 
member of the Spring Hill blue lodge, of 
which he was for seven consecutive years 
the treasurer. Mrs. Arnett is a member of 
the Evangelical church, in which she is a 
faithful worker. 



ERWIN J. MANGAN. Prominent among 
the business men of Sterling, White- 
side county, is numbered E. J. Mangan, 
whose name heads this sketch. No one is 
better known in this vicinity, for his entire 
life has been spent here, and all his interests 



204 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



from boyhood have been closely associated 
with those in this locality. In his special 
line of business he has made a great success, 
and by the energy and zeal which he has 
manifested he has won the confidence and 
esteem of the public. 

Born December 30, 1862, E. J. Mangan 
is a son of Richard L. and Naomi J. 
(Thoman) Mangan, whose history may be 
found in that of their son Samuel T., which 
appears elsewhere in this volume. In his 
youth, our subject attended the public 
schools of this city and managed to obtain 
a liberal education. He was apprenticed to 
a harness maker when young and thoroughly 
learned the trade, at which he worked for a 
number of years. He also learned the trade 
of a wagon-maker, which calling he followed 
a few years, in the meantime residing at 
home with his parents. 

These vocations, however, were not en- 
tirely suited to the tastes of Mr. Mangan, 
and as his father was a successful tforist, 
the young man decided to take up that line 
of business. He was associated with his 
father until the latter's death, after which, 
in partnership with his brother, he continued 
to carry on business for about two years. 
Considering its humble beginning, it has 
grown to remarkable proportions for, whereas 
only a small conservatory, indeed a wing of 
his father's house, was originally used for 
this purpose, large greenhouses are now 
necessary to accommodate the beautiful 
varieties of plants and flowers. At expira- 
tion of this time the business was purchased 
by F. A. Belt, who has retained him as an 
assistant, and the results demonstrate the 
wisdom of his choice. 

The same interest and enterprise which 
our subject maintains in his financial under- 
takings are to be seen in his attitude on 



public questions. In his political affiliation 
he is a Republican of no uncertain stamp, 
believing as he does that to that party can 
be attributed much of the prosperity which 
this country enjoys in the closing days of the 
nineteenth century. Fraternally, he is a 
member of camp Number 12, Modern 
Woodmen of America. 

On the 30th of November, 1885, the 
marriage of E. J. Mangan and Miss May 
Hendricks was solemnized in this city. 
She is the daughter of Samuel B. Hendricks, 
and was born November 30, 1863, in this 
place. Five children blessed the home of 
our subject and wife, their names being re- 
spectively: Pearl, Maurice, Ethel, Marjorie 
and Dorothy. The family reside in an at- 
tractive home where they take great pleas- 
ure in entertaining their many friends. 



EDWARD LANCASTER. Whiteside 
county has many well-to-do and suc- 
cessful farmers who have accumulated what 
they have of this world's goods through in- 
dividual effort. Among this class the name 
of the subject of this sketch is entitled to a 
place. He resides on section 22, Prophets- 
town township, where he is industriously 
engaged in the prosecution of his noble call-' 
ing, and is meeting with good success in his 
labors. 

Mr. Lancaster was born in Lincolnshire, 
England, June 22, 1831, a son of Charles 
Lancaster, also a native of Lincolnshire. 
Our subject was reared upon a farm and 
provided with fair school advantages. In 
his native county he was married in April, 
1856, to Miss Mary Francis, who was also 
born in Lincolnshire, a daughter of John 
Francis. Three dajs later ihey started for 
the new world, taking passage on a sailing 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



205 



vessel at Liverpool and landing in Pliiladel- 
phia June i, after a stormy voyage of seven 
weeks. They proceeded at once to White- 
side county, Illinois, where they joined an 
English friend, Edward Scotchbrook, whose 
sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. 

For three months after his arrival Mr. 
Lancaster worked by the month as a farm 
hand, and then located on the Rock river 
near his present home. He operated rented 
land for about eight years, a part of this 
time being spent on one of Mr. Richmond's 
farms. Industrious and economical, he at 
length saved enough to purchase eighty 
acres of partially improved land, upon which 
he has made his home since 1864. As time 
has passed and his financial resources have 
increased, he has added to his farm until 
his landed possessions now aggregate two 
hundred and thirty acres, which he has con- 
verted into one of the best farms of its size 
in his section of the county. It is pleas- 
antly located on the Rock river, three miles 
from Prophetstown, and is improved with a 
neat and commodious residence, a large 
barn and substantial outbuildings, which 
stand as monuments to his thrift and enter- 
prise. 

Eleven children were born to Mr. and 
Mrs. Lancaster, namely: Jane, now the 
wife of Lorenzo French, of Lyndon; Edwin, 
a farmer of Prophetstown; Eliza, wife of 
Nathan Gage, of Portland township; Han- 
nah, at home; Herbert, a farmer of this 
county; Heltie, wife of Edwin Thompson, 
also a farmer of this county; John, a farmer 
of the same place; Agnes, wife of Chester 
Hill, a farmer of this county; and Lewis 
and Gilbert, who are still on the home farm. 
Hettie, who died in 1866 at the age of two 
years, is the only one of the famil}' now 
deceased. 



At national elections Mr. Lancaster sup- 
ports the men and measures of the Demo- 
cratic party, but in local affairs, where no 
issue is involved, he votes for the best men, 
regardless of party affiliations. He and his 
wife are earnest and consistent members of 
the Congregational church, and are held in 
high regard by all who have the pleasure of 
their acquaintance. 



RALPH N. SMITH, LL. B., city attor- 
ney of \Iorrison, is one of the younger 
members of the Whiteside county bar, but 
his prominence is by no means measured by 
his years; on the contrary, he has won a 
reputation which many an older practitioner 
might well envy. He was born in Green- 
wich, Ohio, June 9, 1870, a son of Otis and 
Mary J. (Welch) Smith. The paternal 
grandfather was Charles Smith, a native of 
Connecticut and a representative of an old 
New England family. For several years he 
engaged in farming in Saratoga county. New 
York, and from there removed to Green- 
wich, Ohio, becoming one of its pioneers. 
He settled in the woods and there cleared 
and improved a farm on which he spent his 
remaining days. 

Otis Smith, father of our subject, was 
born in Saratoga county. New York, and 
was about seventeen years of age when he 
accompanied his parents on their removal 
to Greenwich, Ohio, where he still resides 
upon the old homestead, engaged in agri- 
cultural pursuits. He is the owner of four 
hundred acres of valuable land, all of which 
he devoted to sheep raising until the elec- 
tion of President Cleveland, in 1884, when 
the business became unprofitable owing 
to the removal of the tariff on wool. He 
was very e.xtensively engaged in the busi- 



2o6 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ness, and usually kept from ten to fifteen 
hundred sheep through the winter. He is 
a director of the First National Bank of 
Plymouth, Ohio, and is a strong Repub- 
lican, but not an aspirant for office. His 
wife was born in Huron count}', Ohio, and 
is a daughter of Nicholas and Susan (Stiles) 
Welch, early settlers in the vicinity of 
Greenwich. Both Mr. and Mrs. Smith are 
faithful members of the Congregational 
church. 

Our subject is the youngest son in a 
family of six children. His early education 
was acquired in the common and high 
schools of Greenwich, and after teaching 
school for three years, he entered the Ohio 
Normal University, from which he gradu- 
ated in the scientific department. During 
the following two years he again engaged in 
teaching and for a short time was variously 
employed until he went to Valparaiso, In- 
diana, and pursued a three years' course at 
the Northern Indiana Law School, from 
which he was graduated with the degree of 
LL. B., in 1895. 

On the 15th of July, 1895, Mr. Smith 
was united in marriage with Miss Olive A. 
McBride, a daughter of W. W. McBride, of 
Millersburg, Indiana, and they now have a 
little son, Russell \V., bom September 7, 
1898. 

Soon after his marriage, Mr. Smith 
came to Morrison and opened a law office. 
He met with success from the start and has 
built up a good practice. Although his 
father is wealthy, he received no aid from 
him and has been dependent entirely upon 
his own resources for advancement. He 
has been connected with many of the most 
important cases tried in the county, includ- 
ing the well-known Carlton case and the 
Dourchy ^'t-rsiis Hawes, in which he ap- 



peared for the plaintiff. It involved the 
right of the Salvation Army to induce a 
child to join them against the wishes of the 
parents, in which Mr. Smith got a verdict. 
Mr. Smith was also employed as counsel on 
three important cases in Mount Carroll, and 
also in other counties, which speaks well 
for his ability in his chosen calling. He 
has lately formed a partnership with E. R. 
Daniels, and the firm is doing a good busi- 
ness. Mr. Smith is an active member of 
the Republican party, has been a delegate 
to different conventions, and was elected 
city attorney of Morrison, which position 
he is now most creditably filling. Socially 
he is a member of Grove lodge, I. O. O. P., 
and Anchor lodge, K. P., of which he is 
now chancellor commander. 



BENJAMIN F. BROOKS, whose well- 
kept farm lies in section 29, Portland 
township, in Spring Hill, is a man of good 
business capacity, and great intelligence. 
On the old homestead about two miles 
from his present home he was born .\ugust 
17, 1837, in tiie log cabin reared by his 
father, the late Alphonso Brooks, and it 
is historically interesting to know that he 
is said to be the oldest white child born in 
this county that is still a resident. The 
cabin in which he first opened his eyes to 
the light was rudely constructed of unhewn 
logs, and as there was but a dirt floor he 
actually took his first steps on his native 
soil. 

Alphonso Brooks, a native of New York 
state, lived there until 1833, when he 
joined the procession marching westward in 
search of cheaper and better homes. Tak- 
ing up a claim in Du Page county, Illinois, 
he spent one season there, but in 1834 re- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



207 



turned to New York where he soon married 
Miss Eliza Teats, who was born and reared 
in that state. In 1835, accompanied by his 
young wife, he again came to IHinois, and 
crossing the state located in Whiteside 
county. From one of the original settlers 
of Portland township he purchased a claim 
of one hundred and twenty acres, on which 
he reared the log house before mentioned. 
After placing a portion of his land in a good 
state of cultivation, he disposed of that prop- 
erty and took a claim at Spring Hill, where 
he erected the first building used as a house 
of public entertainment in this locality, and 
there for many years kept a hotel, and en- 
gaged in farming. 

Benjamin F. Brooks attended the dis- 
trict school in his youthful days, and as an 
able assistant in the general work of the 
home farm obtained a thorough knowledge 
of agriculture, which he has made his life 
occupation. On settling in life he bought 
the parental homestead, but later traded 
that for his present estate, in the improve- 
ment of which he has labored with unremit- 
ting industry, and has met with richly de- 
served success. He has spent his entire life 
in this vicinity, and during the three score 
and more of years has witnessed wonderful 
changes, with many of which he has been 
actively identified. In his boyhood days 
there were neither large school-houses, 
magnificent churches, costly residences, nor 
substantial barns; neither railways, tele- 
graph or telephone lines crossed these broad 
acres, and the evidences of civilization were 
but few. Now flourishing towns and cities 
abound, and broad, well cultivated farms 
yield abundantly of the products of the soil; 
in this grand transformation Mr. Brooks 
has performed his share of labor, spend- 
ing many of the best years of the busy life 

IS 



in redeeming from its primitive condition 
a portion of this beautiful country. 

On April 19, 1859, Mr. Brooks married 
Miss Mary Lamphere, who was born in 
New York state, but who grew to woman- 
hood in Illinois. She passed to the life be- 
yond April 5, 1886, leaving six children, as 
follows: Frederic, a farmer, is married 
and resides in Henry county; Emmett, also 
a farmer, is married and lives in Henry 
county; Cora; Bert, engaged in farming in 
Poetland township, is married; Alice, who 
died at the age of twenty-eight years, and 
Roy, who assists in the care of the home 
farm. On August 28, 1889, Mr. Brooks 
married Miss Electra L. Brown, who was 
born and reared in Rock Island county, Illi- 
nois. One son has been born of this union, 
Marion, now a pupil in the public schools. 

Mr. Brooks cast his first ballot in i860, 
voting for Abraham Lincoln for president, 
and has ever since been conspicuously iden- 
tified with the Republican party. Taking 
an active interest in local affairs, he has 
served honorably and well in various offi- 
cial positions, wherever placed striving to 
do his best. He was deputy sheriff four 
years; a member of the school board many 
terms; has served as township collector; is 
present chairman of the township commit- 
tee; has been assessor the past eight or ten 
years, and has attended county conventions 
as a delegate almost continuously since 
i860. He has served one term as super- 
visor and road commissioner. He is prom- 
inent in Masonic circles, being past master 
of Spring Hill lodge. No. 412. Mr. and 
Mrs. Brooks are both members of the 
Sharon Methodist Episcopal church, he be- 
ing one of the charter members of the or- 
ganization, and at the present time one of 
the church trustees. 



208 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



FRED R. BASTIAN, of Fulton, is one 
of the active members of the Demo- 
cratic party in this section, his large ac- 
quaintance and popularity giving him an in- 
fluential following, while his judgment of 
men and affairs make his counsel of value. 
He was born in Rochester, New York, Sep- 
tember 23, 1856, and in 1861 came to Illi- 
nois with his parents, Van S. and Ann E. 
Bastian, who settled on a farm near Proph- 
etstown, Whiteside county, where after re- 
maining one year, removed to Bureau coun- 
ty, where he grew to manhood. His edu- 
cation was desultory and was procured 
through his own efforts. Nature endowed 
him with an active mind and he made the 
most of his advantages. He received a high 
grade certificate and successfully engaged in 
teaching school for three years, after which 
he followed various occupations for some 
time. 

In October, 1879, Mr. Bastian accepted 
a position as reporter on the Sterling Ga- 
zette and was connected with that paper un- 
til April, 1 88 1, when he purchased the Jour- 
nal office at Fulton, Illinois, and changed 
the character of the paper from a Repub- 
lican to independent Democratic. Without 
severing his connection with the Journal, he 
went to Grand Forks, South Dakota, in 
July, 1882, as reporter on the Grand Forks 
Daily and Weekly News, but the following 
November returned to Fulton and resumed 
work on the Journal. He was interested in 
that paper until the fall of 1898, whenhe 
sold out to his brother, A. W. Bastian, the 
present editor and proprietor, and is now 
employed in the Fulton bank. 

On the 2istof August, 1884, at Mendo- 
ta, Illinois, Mr. Bastian was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Nellie J. Barton, a native of 
La Salle county, this state, and a daughter 



of William and Maria L (Hastings) Barton. 
He is quite active in fraternal affairs, is a 
member of Abou Ben Adhem lodge, No. 
148, I. O. O. F. ; and was the organizer of 
Sunlight lodge. No. 235, K. P., circulating 
the petition and securing the charter for the 
same. Later he served as its first chancel- 
lor commander and first representative to 
the grand lodge. He was also a charter 
member of Forest camp. No. 2, M. W. A., 
in which he filled all of the chairs, and 
which he represented in the grand lodge. 
In political affairs, however, he is perhaps 
best known, and he is one of the active 
workers for his party interests in Whiteside 
county. In 1895 he received the Demo- 
cratic nomination for congressman from the 
tenth congressional district, and in 1898 
his name was again placed on the party 
ticket for representative to the state Legis- 
lature from the thirty-first senatorial dis- 
trict, but he labors to a disadvantage as his 
party is in the minority in this county. 
However, he is a man of firm conviction 
and is utterly fearless and uncompromising; 
is bold and aggressive; and thoroughly en- 
joys a political contest. In 1896 he was 
appointed postmaster of Fulton, by Presi- 
dent Cleveland, although an advocate erf the 
free coinage of silver. He went to Wash- 
ington, presented his case to the president 
and received the appointment. After serv- 
ing in that position for twenty-two months, 
which was several weeks after President 
McKinley's election, he was removed on ac- 
count of his active partisanship. 



CHARLES NOON, Sr., an industrious 
and thrifty farmer residing on section 
32, Tampico township, Whiteside county, 
Illinois, was born in Warwickshire, Eng- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



2og 



land, December 30, 1828, and there was 
reared upon a farm. On the i6th of No- 
vember, 1848, at the age of twenty years, 
he was united in marriage with Miss Martha 
Hughes, who was born in Northampton- 
shire, England, October 8, 1830, and in 
their native land they continued to make 
their home until after the birth of all their 
children. There our subject worked at 
farming, mowing, ditching, or anything 
which he could find to do. 

With the hope of benefiting his finan- 
cial condition in the new world, Mr. Noon 
left England, in 1874, and with his family 
sailed from Liverpool to Quebec, whence 
they came at once to Whiteside count}', 
Illinois, joining Mrs. Noon's brother, James 
Hughes, who had located here in 1849. The 
family arrived at their destination July 19, 
and the following November Mr. Noon pur- 
chased a farm of eighty acres, on which was 
a little house, and a few other improve- 
ments. After leaving there for two 
years, he bought one hundred and 
sixty acres, where he now resides. Up- 
on that place he also built a little 
house, but he has since erected thereon 
two good residences, two large barns, a 
milk house and other outbuildings, and has 
made many other improvements which add 
to the value and attractive appearance 
of the place. He has since purchased forty 
acres elsewhere, and has a farm of one 
hundred and twenty acres one mile south of 
Tampic, making in all four hundred acres 
of very valuable and productive land. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Noon were born four- 
teen children, namely: Anna, who mar- 
ried George Low in England, and died 
there, leaving two children; Thomas, now a 
substantial farmer of this county; Benjamin 
and Charles, Jr., who aid in the operation of 



the home farm; Martha, wife of George 
Boldison; Jane, wife of Adam Miller; 
Rachel, wife of Webb Scott, of DeKalb 
county, Illinois; Sarah, wife of James Har- 
ris, of Princeton, Illinois; James, a farmer 
of Iowa; Job, a resident of the west; Caleb, 
a resident of Greenfield, Tennessee; Will- 
iam, a farmer of Iowa; Mary, wife of John 
Curley, of Tampico township, residing on 
one of Mr. Noon's farms; and Hannah, wife 
of John Wenkler, who operates one of her 
father's farms. Mr. and Mrs. Noon were 
reared in the Episcopalian faith and their 
children were all baptized in that church. 
They have twenty-eight grandchildren and 
one great-grandchild. Mr. Noon has made 
the most of his opportunities in life, and by 
his straightforward, honorable course has 
gained the respect and confidence of the 
entire community. He has accumulated a 
handsome property, and his life illustrates 
what can be accomplished through industry, 
perseverance, good management and a 
determination to succeed. 



BENJAMIN GURTISEN, one of the 
honored pioneers and representative 
citizens of Sterling, where he has made his 
home since 1854, was born in Strasburg, 
Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, January 
3, 1835, a son of Maximillian F. and Mar- 
garet (Rheam) Gurtisen, natives of Ger- 
many, who in childhood came to the United 
States and were married in Lancaster coun- 
ty, where the father engaged in the butcher 
business and conducted a meat market of 
his own. He was killed on the Pennsyl- 
vania Railroad at Lemon when our subject 
was only two years old, leaving his wife 
with three small children: Jacob, now a 
resident of Iowa; Benjamin; and John, of 






2IO 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. After her 
children grew up the mother moved to Ger- 
mantown, Indiana, where she died in the 
faith of the Lutheran church. 

Our subject received a good practical 
education in the schools of Strasburg, and 
served an apprenticeship to the shoemaker's 
trade at that place. He then came to Sterl- 
ing, Illinois, which at that time was a small 
village containing only one or two stores. 
After working at his trade for two years his 
health gave out and he accepted a position 
with a railroad surveying party. Later he 
formed a partnership with W. F. Caughey, 
and under the firm name of Caughey & 
Gurtisen conducted the first successful meat 
market at Sterling. They did their own 
slaughtering and as they had no ice were 
compelled to sell their meat the day the an- 
imals were killed. They would buy cattle 
and slaughter them anywhere, and sheep for 
killing were allowed to run over the present 
site of the city. During the construction of 
the railroad there was such a demand for 
meat that the people would stand in line to 
be waited on and fight for their meat, get- 
ting hold of a piece while it was being cut 
and holding on for fearsome one else would 
get it. The firm did a good business for a 
number of years, and their first market on 
Fifth avenue was afterward replaced by a 
good brick block on the same street near 
the high school. 

Loyal to his country, Mr. Gurtisen gave 
up a good business and excellent prospects 
in order to enlist in Company A, Thirty- 
fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, which 
was assigned to the western army under 
General Rosecrans. At Green river he was 
taken ill and after a year and a half was 
discharged from the field hospital with the 
rank of second sergeant. The following 



year he re-enlisted as second lieutenant in 
Company A, One Hundred and Fortieth Illi- 
nois Volunteer Infantry — a hundred -day 
regiment — which was first ordered to Cairo 
and later to Memphis, Coldwater and 
Pigeon. They were engaged in fighting 
guerrillas until time to be mustered out, 
when they were ordered to Chicago for that 
purpose, but as Price was then making a 
raid through Missouri they were sent to St. 
Louis and remained in Missouri until he 
left, being finally mustered out in Chicago. 
Before his re-enlistment, Mr. Gurtisen 
and his partner sold out their business and 
both entered the same company. After his re- 
turn our subject clerked in the grocery store 
of S. Ross Morgan for a number of years, 
and after he sold out to a Mr. Brewer Mr. 
Gurtisen had charge o( the store — then one 
of the largest in the city — for one year. At 
the end of that time he purchased a half in- 
terest in the business, and in partnership 
with James P. Overhoser enjoyed a good 
and profitable trade. In the meantmie 
he invested in Nebraska lands and city lots 
and became a stockholder in different 
manufacturing concerns of Sterling. After 
disposing of his grocery store he -was em- 
ployed as shipping clerk in the Novelty 
Works for two years, and later clerked for 
J. R. Bell & Company for a number of years, 
after which he was administrator for estates. 
He built a good residence on Fifth avenue 
where the high school now stands, and on 
selling it to the township for school purposes, 
in 1897, he erected his present beautiful 
home at 505 Seventh avenue, where he is 
now living. 

In 1857, Mr. Gurtisen married Miss 
Emma Aument, a native of Lancaster 
county, Pennsylvaniy, who came to Sterling 
with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



21 I 



Aument, her father heing a wagon man- 
ufacturer here in early days. The one child 
born of this union died young. Mr. Gurtisen 
were both reared in the Lutheran church. 
He is identified with the Republican party, 
and takes a very prominent and active 
part in city affairs. He has been a mem- 
ber of the common council for quite a 
number of years, during which the water 
works were put in operation; has also been 
chairman of the electric light committee for 
eight or ten years, and it is due to his untir- 
ing efforts that the lights of the city were 
put up. He is also chairman of the license 
and judiciary committees, and as a public- 
spirited and progressive citizen does all in 
his power to advace the interests of the city. 
He is a prominent and influential member 
of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, 
having joined Sterling Lodge, January 8, 
1858. On the 1st of July, 1859, he was 
elected vice-grand; noble grand, January 2, 
i860; and past grand July 2, i860. He was 
made a member of the grand lodge in 1872; 
grand junior warden of the Grand Encamp- 
ment of Illinois in i 880; grand senior warden 
in 1 88 I grand high priest in 1882; and grand 
patriarch in 1883 and 1884. He attended 
all the meetings of the brand lodge and 
grand encampment until 1898, and is now 
deputy and also official examiner and in- 
structor of the grand lodge of the state. 
He also belongs to William Robinson yost. 
No. 274 G. A. R., and is quite popular both 
in social and political circles. 



SAMUEL McKEAN McCALMONT, LL. 
B. , of Morrison, is one of the ablest 
lawyers practicing at the Whiteside county 
bar. A man of sound judgment, he man- 
ages his cases with masterly skill and tact, 



is a logical reasoner and has a ready com- 
mand of English. A native of Whiteside 
county, he was born in Ustick township, 
December 30, 1867, and is the only child of 
John J. and Sarah E. (McKean) McCal- 
mont. The father was a native of Centre 
county, Pennsylvania, and of Scotch descent, 
being the son of William Scott and Margaret 
(Laird) McCalmont. There he grew to 
manhood, but after his marriage, which was 
celebrated in Centre county, January 17, 
1867, he came to Whiteside county, Illinois, 
and purchased a tract of wild land in Ustick 
township, to the improvement and cultiva- 
tion of which he devoted his energies until 
called from this life September 27, 1869, at 
the early age of twenty-nine years, ^^'ill- 
iam S. McCalmont, grandfather of our sub- 
ject, died in Centre county, Pennsylvania, 
December 17, 1863, and his father, John 
McCalmont, died about 1782. The wife of 
the latter was Jane Allison. John McCal- 
mont was a son of Thomas McCalmont, who 
came to America from the north of Ireland. 
The family have all been strong members 
of the Presbyterian church. Our subject's 
maternal grandfather was Samuel McKean, 
a tanner and farmer of Center county, Penn- 
sylvania, who was born September 21, 1809, 
and died September 7, 1867. He svas mar- 
ried, November 28, 1837, to Elizabeth M. 
Lowry, who was born November 26, 18 14, 
and is still living. Her father, James M. 
Lowry, was born June 19, 1792, and was 
married February 24, 1S14, to Sarah Laird, 
who was born April i, 1790. After the 
death of her first husband, the mother of 
our subject returned to Pennsylvania, and in 
Northumberland county, that state, she was 
again married, September 3, 1873, her 
second union being with J. S. Miller, of 
Ustick township, Whiteside county, IHinois, 



1 



2 12 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



now of Fulton. They have one child, Anna 
R. In religious faith the mother is also a 
Presbyterian. 

The primary education of Samuel M. 
McCalmont was obtained in the district 
schools of Ustick township, and he later 
attended school at Morrison, coming a dis- 
tance of five miles each morning. On the 
removal of the family to Fulton, in Decem- 
ber, 1886, he entered the high school at 
that place, from which he was graduated in 
1888. The following year was spent at the 
Northern Illinois College, at Fulton, and in 
the fall of 1889 he entered the literary de- 
partment of the University of Michigan at 
Ann Arbor, but a year later became a stu- 
dent of the law department of the same in- 
stitution, from which he was graduated with 
the degree of L.L. B., in 1892. In the 
fall of that year he opened an office in Ful- 
ton and engaged in practice there until 
March i, 1895, when he came to Morrison 
and formed a partnership with F. D. Ram- 
say. On the election of that gentleman to 
the office of circuit judge, Mr. McCalmont 
succeeded to their large practice and is now 
one of the leading lawyers of the city. He 
is engaged in general practice and was one of 
the representatives of the people of Fulton in 
the Modern Woodmen case that was recentl}' 
tried in this county. His powers as an 
advocate have been demonstrated by his 
success on many occasions. Thoroughness 
characterizes all his efforts, and he conducts 
all business with a strict regard»to a high 
standard of professional ethics. November 
1 , 1 899, he formed a partnership with Luther 
R. Ramsay, son of Judge Ramsay, and the 
business is conducted under the firm name 
of McCalmont & Ramsay. Religiously Mr. 
McCalmont is a Presbyterian. 

On the i6th of November, 1898, Mr. 



McCalmont married Miss Mary Alice Taylor, 
of Morrison, a daughter of Dr. Samuel Tay- 
lor, deceased. 



ADAM B. YOUNG, a retired agricultur- 
ist of Spring Hill, resided on section 
30, Portland township, is an honored rep- 
resentative of the early pioneers of this 
county, and a true type of the energetic, 
hardy men who have actively assisted in 
developing and improving this beautiful and 
fertile agricultural country. When he 
came here, in 1853, wild beasts roamed the 
forest, and the dusky savage still habited 
the wilderness hereabout, but these have 
all long since fled, their haunts being re- 
placed by populous villages or waving fields 
of grain. He was born March 3, 1823, in 
Blair county, Pennsylvania, a son of Bal- 
zar Young. 

Balzar Young was born in Germany, but 
when seven years old started with his parents 
from the Fatherland for America. His fa- 
ther died on the voyage over, and was 
buried at sea. His widowed mother pro- 
ceeded to Pennsylvania with her three chil- 
dren, two daughters and o'ne son, but not 
being able to support them alone bound 
them out. Balzar Young learned the trade 
of stone mason, and until his death was 
engaged in mechanical labor. He married 
Catherine Burket, daughter of Adam Burket, 
who was born and reared in Germany, but 
subsequently settled in Bedford county, 
Pennsylvania, where he brought up his 
family. Of this union sixteen children 
were born, si.\ of them being sons, and of 
this large familj- of children four sons aid 
six daughters are now, in November, 1899, 
living. 

Adam B. Young grew to manhood in his 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



213 



native county, and being the eldest son of 
the parental household had but little time 
to devote to school, his help being needed 
to support the large family. In his earlier 
days he worked on a farm, but afterwards 
followed the occupation of a post and rail 
fence builder for fourteen years, a business 
which he found profitable. In 1853, fol- 
lowing the tide of emigration westward, he 
came to Whiteside county with his family, 
and having entered one hundred and twenty 
acres of land in Portland township at once 
commenced clearing it. He built a log 
cabin in which he lived seven years before 
erecting a frame house. As he accumula- 
ted money he invested in adjoining land until 
he had a farm of two hundred and seventy- 
seven acres, with excellent farm buildings, 
and this estate is still in his possession. In 
1879 Mr. Young bought the property on 
which he now resides, and during the 
twenty years that have since elapsed he has 
made noted improvements, having entirely 
remodeled the house, barn and outbuildings, 
built new fences, and planted an orchard of 
fine fruit trees. He devotes his energies to 
general farming, including stock raising and 
dealing, and for thirty-two years manufact- 
ured cider each fall, making barrels upon 
barrels every season, and selling it at differ- 
ent markets throughout the country. By 
untiringindustry and sound busness judgment 
has won merited success in all of his un- 
dertakings, and is in all respects worthy of 
the high regard in which he is held by his 
fellow men. 

On the 1 8th of September, 1S44, Mr. 
Young married Elizabeth Ebersole, who 
was born in Blair county, Pennsylvania, a 
daughter of Jacob Ebersole. She passed 
to the higher life in 1892, leaving seven 
children as follows: Jacob, a farmer, liv- 



ing on the old homestead; John, who is en- 
gaged as a general farmer in Portland town- 
ship; Isaac, also a farmer in this place; 
Daniel, of Portland township, a well-known 
farmer; George, a resident of Greenfield, 
Adair county, Iowa; Mary, wife of John F. 
Martin, of Crawford county, Missouri; and 
Adam Young, Jr., a farmer, living near 
Erie, this county. Politically Mr. Young 
has been a stanch supporter of the princi- 
ples of the Democratic party since casting 
his first presidential ballot, in 1844, for 
James K. Polk, and though taking no very 
active part in public affairs was for a num- 
ber of years one of the school directors. 
While living in his Pennsylvania home he 
was connected with the Lutheran church, 
but since coming to Portland he has united 
with the Sharon Presbyterian church, in 
which he is an earnest worker. 



ORRIN PADDOCK owns and operates a 
fine farm of one hundred acres on 
section 27, Prophetstown township, who is 
pleasantly located on the Rock river only 
two miles from the village of Prophetstown. 
It is conspicuous for the manner in which 
it has been improved and cultivated, and 
shows conclusively that it belongs to one of 
the most enterprising and energetic agri- 
culturists of the county. 

Mr. Paddock was born in Lewis county. 
New York, July 31, 1837, and is a son of 
James C. Paddock, who was born in Oneida 
county, that state, in iSio. The paternal 
grandfather was John Paddock. The father 
grew to manhood in his native county, and 
there married Miss Ro.xie Hall, also a na- 
tive of New York, and a daughter of Caleb 
Hall. From Oneida county they removed 
to Lewis county. New York, and in Novem- 



214 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ber, 185 1, came to Whiteside county, Illi- 
nois, where they joined two of Mr. Pad- 
dock's brothers. They made the journey 
across the country with teams, in company 
with another brother and his family. Here 
the father of our subject purchased between 
eight and nine hundred acres of land, which 
he at once began to improve and cultivate, 
but was not long permitted to enjoy his 
new home, dying of cholera September 2, 
1854. His wife had died of the same dread 
disease three days before — August 31, and 
two sons, George, aged eight, and Clark, 
aged two and a half years, died the day fol- 
lowing the father's death. All were laid to 
rest in the Prophetstovvn cemetery. There 
were six children of the family who reached 
years of maturity, namely: John, now a 
merchant of Prophetstown; Caleb, a resi- 
dent of South Dakota; Orrin, of this review; 
Jay, a resident of Rock Island county; Mary, 
wife of Daniel H. Paddock, of Prophets- 
town, and James, now deceased. 

Orrin Paddock was a lad of fourteen 
years when he came with the family to this 
county, and he assisted in the development 
and cultivation of the home farm, trans- 
forming the virgin soil into highly cultivated 
fields. After the death of their parents, he 
and his brothers carried on the place to- 
gether for the first year, but during the fol- 
lowing two years he worked by the month 
as a farm hand, and he then succeeded to 
eighty acres of the old homestead. He had 
received a good common-school education 
which well fitted him for the practical duties 
of life. 

In Prophetstown township Mr. P.iddock 
was married in October, 1857, to Miss Jane 
Hotchkiss, a native of New York, who was 
si.xteen years of age when she came to 
this county with her uncle, Rufus Hotch- 



kiss, one of the early settlers of Oswego 
county. New York. By this union two chil- 
dren were born: Lillie May, who di-id at the 
age of seventeen years, and Emily Lavina, 
wife of Earl Reynolds, of Sterling. 

Mr. and Mrs. Paddock began housekeep- 
ing on the old Paddock homestead, where 
he successfully operated for fifteen years, 
and then sold, buying the place where he 
now lives. To its further improvement and 
cultivation he has since devoted his time 
and attention in connection with stock rais- 
ing, and now has a valuable farm. He 
keeps a good grade of horses, cattle and 
hogs, and is justly regarded as one of the 
best farmers of the county. Mr. Paddock 
cast his first presidential ballot for Abraham 
Lincoln in i860, but is now a stalwart 
Democrat. He is widely and favorably 
known, and as an honored pioneer and rep- 
resentative man of the community is well 
worthy of the high regard in which he is 
uniformlv held. 



JOHN BOYD, a well-to-do agriculturist 
and leading stock-dealer of Mount Pleas- 
ant township, is a typical self-made man, 
and in the following record of his career 
there is much to arouse respect and esteem. 
He has placed his reliance upon industry and 
perseverance rather than "luck," and by 
making the most of circumstances, however 
discouraging, has made his way to substan- 
tial success, his fine farm on section 19 be- 
ing a tangible evidence of prosperity. 

A native of Scotland, Mr. Boyd was born 
in Ayreshire September i, 1826, and is a 
son of William and Mary Robinson Boyd. 
He received his education in his native 
land, and followed farming with his father 
until 1823, when at the age of twenty-three 




JOHN BOYD. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



217 



years he came along to America and took 
up his residence in Whiteside county, Illi- 
nois. After working by the month for five 
years he was able in 1853 to purchase one 
hundred and twenty acres of raw prairie 
land, to the cultivation and improvement of 
which he devoted his energies for many 
years. To the original purchase he added 
from time to time until he now has about 
four hundred acres of rich and arable land. 
His son, William, now manages the farm 
while he gives his attention to the stock 
business. Dairying occupies a considerable 
portion of his time, as he keeps from twenty- 
five to thirty milch cows for that business. 
He also buys and ships cattle, principally 
milch cows, throughout the surrounding 
couiities. For the past fifteen years he has 
done little general farming, his entire time 
being given to the cattle business. 

On the 24th of February, 1857, Mr. 
Boyd was united in marriage with Miss Isa- 
bella Archibald, also a native of Scotland, 
of which country her parents, Daniel and 
Mary (Easdale) Archibald, were life- long 
residents. Her father followed the occupa- 
tion of farming. Both he and his wife are 
now deceased, and Mrs. Boyd is now the 
only one of the family living, her brothers, 
Robert, James and Daniel, having also 
passed away. Three children were born to 
our subject and his wife. James, the eldest, 
now cashier of the Farmers' National Bank 
of Kearney, Nebraska, married May Rob- 
ertson, and has one child living, James W. ; 
William manages the home farm for his 
father, and Mary died at the age of seven- 
teen years. 

In his political affiliations Mr. Boyd is 
a Democrat, and for a number of j ears he 
most acceptably filled the office of road com- 
missioner. His wife holds membership in 



the Presbyterian church of Morrison, and 
although he is not a member he gives lib- 
erally to its support, and gave five hun- 
dred dollars toward the erection of the house 
of worship. What he has accomplished in 
life is the result of his own individual effort, 
for his capital on landing in the new world 
consisted of only nineteen dollars. He paid 
five dollars for a man to take him from Chi- 
cago to Di.xon on coming to this county, 
and daring the first three years he worked 
here he received only three dollars in money, 
as currency was very scarce at that time. 
Enterprising, industrious and energetic he 
has met with well-merited success in his la- 
bors, and is now one of the prosperous and 
substantial citizens of his community. 



WILLIAM E. ALLEN, who is identified 
with the Northwestern Railway Com- 
pany at Fulton, Illinois, as both ticket and 
freight agent, is well qualified by knowledge 
and training for the important position he 
holds, and in which he is giving good satis- 
faction to all concerned. He was born in 
Fulton township December 19, 1857, a son 
of Orin T. and Hannah (Randall) .\llen, 
both of whom were born, reared and mar- 
ried in Ohio. They removed from Hills- 
borough, that state, about 1845, to Illinois, 
and settled on government land in Fulton 
township, where the father was prosper- 
ously engaged in farming until his death, in 
July, 1895. He was a stanch Democrat in 
politics, and was a consistent member of the 
Methodist Episcopal church. His widow 
survives him, and makes her home with her 
son William. They were the parents of five 
children, as follows: .\manda, wife of L. A. 
Lewis, of Ustick township; Isaac B., of 
Fulton, who is in the employ of the North- 



2l8 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



western Railway Company; William E., the 
special subject of this sketch; Effie, wife of 
Elisha Lockhart, of Garden Plain township; 
and Minnie, wife of W. H. Dabler, a con- 
ductor on the C, B. & Q. Railway, and a 
resident of Fulton. 

William E. Allen was brought up on the 
home farm, and attended the district schools 
of the township and the Fulton high school. 
When seventeen years old he entered the 
joint office of the Milwaukee & Northwestern 
Railway as a telegraph operator, and when 
he had become an adept at telegraphing he 
was given a position at Meriden, Minnesota, 
on the Winona & St. Peter division of the 
road, and for three years thereafter was 
stationed at different places in Minnesota 
and Dakota. In 1880 he returned to Fulton 
to become night operator in the North- 
western office, and was subsequently in 
Iowa ten years, being stationed in different 
offices. Coming again to Fulton, he was 
employed as clerk in the freight department 
of the Northwestern office for two years, 
and the ensuing six years had control of the 
joint office at Fulton Junction. In 1893 he 
was installed in his present position, which 
he has since filled most acceptably. 

In politics Mr. Allen affiliates with the 
Republican party, and takes a cordial inter- 
est in all matters relating to town, county 
or state. For four years he was alderman 
from the third ward, and in 1899 was elected 
to the board of education, on which he is 
one of the committee for securing teachers. 
While living in Iowa, he served as town 
clerk at West Side, and was a member of 
the town council. Fraternally he is past 
chancellor in the order of the Knights of 
Pythias, belongs to the Modern Woodmen 
of America, and is a member of the Mystic 
Workers of the World. 



At Amiret, Minnesota, on September 2 1 , 
1 88 1, Mr. Allen was united in marriage with 
Miss Nona Grover, daughter of Lafayette 
and Olive (Northrup) Grover, the former of 
whom was born at Blue Earth City, Minne- 
sota. Mr. and Mrs. Allen have two chil- 
dren. Fay O. and Edwin Rodney. 



JACOB J. WINCHEL is successfully en- 
gaged in agricultural pursuits on sec- 
tion 36, Prophetstown township, where he 
owns a farm comprising two hundred and 
twenty acres of well-improved and valuable 
land. He is numbered among the self-made 
men of the county, his accumulations being 
the result of his own industry, careful man- 
agement and well-directed labors, and the 
exercise of a naturally good judgment both 
in regard to agricultural pursuits and busi- 
ness matters. In 1856 he located in Henry 
county, and since that time this section of 
the state has been the field of his operations 
and the center of his interests and hopes. 

Mr. Winchell was born in Ulster county, 
New York, January 21, 1835, and belongs 
to a family of English origin that was early 
founded in that county. His grandfather, 
Peter Winchell, was a native of New York, 
and his father, Joseph Winchell, was born 
in Ulster county, and there married Lany 
Elmendorph, a native of the same county. 
Her father. Captain Elmendorph, was a 
soldier of the Revolutionary war, and in 
recognition of his services received a land 
warrant, with which he secured a tract of 
land in Michigan. After farming in his 
native county for a number of years, Joseph 
Winchell came west in 1857 and died here 
about 1873. His wife, who survived him a 
number of years, departed this life in 1892, 
at the age of seventy-seven years. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



219 



In the county of his nativity, Jacob J. 
Wincheil grew to manhood, acquiring an 
excellent knowledge of farming, but rather 
a meager literary education. In 1856 he 
came to Illinois and joined some friends in 
Henry county. He worked by the month 
for four years in that and Bureau counties. 
On the 19th of December, 1859, in Henry 
county, he led to the marriage altar Miss 
Sarah A. Lane, who was born in Niles, 
Michigan, and in 1855 removed from that 
state to Henry county, Illinois, with her 
father, Benjamin Lane. The young couple 
began their domestic life on a rented farm 
in Henry county, and there they made their 
home until the spring of 1864, when Mr. 
Wincheil purchased eighty acres of land in 
Prophetstown township, Whiteside county, 
and they located thereon. After operating 
it for several years he traded the land for a 
part of his present farm, and it has now 
been their home since 1873. At that time 
only half of the one hundred and si.xty acres 
had been placed under the plow, and an old 
house was about the only improvement upon 
the place, but to-day there is a large and 
pleasant residence surrounded by well-tilled 
fields, and everything about the farm testi- 
fies to the careful supervision of an owner 
who thoroughly understands his chosen call- 
ing. He has added to the farm until he has 
two hundred and twenty acres of rich and 
arable land, and he also bought and gave to 
his son a tract of eighty acres. 

Mr. and Mrs. Wincheil are the parents of 
five children, four sons and one daughter, 
namely: Flora, now the wife of Marvin 
Griffin, a farmer of Tampico town-hip; 
WilHam, an engineer on the Chicago, Bur- 
lington & Ouincy Railroad, and a resident 
of Galesburg, Illinois; Lewis B., a farmer of 
Tampico township; and Nathan and Foster, 



who assist their father in the operation of 
the home farm. They also have an adopted 
daughter, Jennie May, who has found a 
home with them since two weeks old. 

Politically Mr. Wincheil has been identi- 
fied with the Republican party since casting 
his first presidential vote for Abraham Lin- 
coln in i860, but he has never cared for the 
honors or emoluments of public office, pre- 
ferring to give his undivided attention to his 
business interests. However, he takes an 
active interest in educational affairs, and 
has served as a member of the school board 
for twenty years. He was a charter nrem- 
ber of Yorktown lodge, F. & A. M., and 
served as its secretary for some years. 
He and his wife are members of the 
Christian church of Yorktown, and are 
highly respected and esteemed by all who 
know them. 



EDWARD' L. CROSIER, agent for the 
Chicago, Burlington & Ouincy Railway 
Company, having charge of the offices at Ly- 
onsand Fulton, and likewise theFultonagent 
of the Adams Express Company, is an act- 
ive, wide-awake business man and a valued 
citizen of Fulton, Illinois. He was born 
November 15, 1862, in Mercer county, Illi- 
nois, near the village of Sunbeam, a son 
of William Crosier. 

William Crosier removed from Pennsyl- 
vania, the state of his birth, to Mercer 
county at a comparatively day, and for 
many years was the leading contractor and 
builder of that part of the state. From 
1868 until 1 87 1 he resided in Clinton, Mis- 
souri, where he filled the office of deputy 
sheriff for three years. Returning from 
there to Mercer county, he remained until 



220 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



1888, when he removed with his family to 
Kewanee, Henry county, and is there act- 
ively engaged at the present time as a con- 
tractor. He married Miss Maggie Smith, 
a daughter of George Smith, who was an 
early pioneer of Mercer county, having 
emigrated from Ohio to that section of the 
country when it was but thinly populated, 
and bears, deer, wolves and other wild beasts 
were plentiful. Of their union three chil- 
dren have been born, namely: George A., 
special police in the Fisher building, in 
Chicago; Edward L. , the subject of this 
brief biographical notice; and Nellie, who 
lives with her parents. 

Edward L. Crosier received a substan- 
tial common-school education, and until 
eighteen years of age assisted his father at 
the carpenter's bench. Going then into 
the office of the Chicago, Burlington & 
Quincy Railway, he learned telegraphy un- 
der the instruction of Fred Clark, now 
assistant general auditor of the Chicago, 
Burlington & Quincy Company, remaining 
with him fifteen months. He was then 
placed in charge of the night telegraph of- 
fices at Stanton and Villisca, both in Mont- 
gomery county, Iowa, where he remained 
until September, 1883. Going then to Da- 
kota, he took up a claim on which he re- 
sided until May, 1885, when he returned to 
Mercer county to accept the position of 
clerk in a hotel at Aledo. Mr. Crosier soon 
afterwards resumed work for the railroad 
company by taking a night office at 
Montgomery, Illinois, and has since been 
in their employ. For three years he was 
station agent at Ladd, Illinois, from whence, 
on June i, 1892, he came to Fulton to as- 
sume the duties of his present office, which 
is quite important as it includes the picking 
up and setting out of all cars between Den- 



rock and Fulton. That he has risen to his 
high position in the service of the railroad 
company is due to the strict attention he has 
paid to every little detail of business, his 
fidelity and general urbanity of manner 
making him a favorite with the officers of 
the road, and with all travelers on it. 

Mr. Crosier has always been an active 
worker in the Republican ranks, and in 
1897 was elected alderman from the second 
ward, an office he now holds. Fraternally 
he is a Royal Arch Mason, belonging to 
Fulton City lodge. No. 189, A. F. & A. M., 
and is a member of the Modern Woodmen 
of America. 

On April 29, 1866, Mr. Crosier married, 
at Burlington, Iowa, Miss Mary Starkey, 
who was born in Kewanee, Illinois, but 
then resided in Aledo, Illinois, with her 
parents, Irvine W. and Jeannette (Winn) 
Stnrkey. Mr. and Mrs Crosier have three 
children, namely: Nellie M., Edna M., 
and William Irvine, who was named for his 
two grandfathers. 



CARL S. ELLITHORPE, whome home 
is conveniently located on section 6, 
Prophetstown township, a mile and a quar- 
ter from the village of Prophetstown, was 
for many years one of the most active and 
progressive agriculturists of the county, as 
well as one of its most reliable and honora- 
ble citizens, and now in his declining years 
he is enjoying a well-earned rest, free from 
the cares and responsibilities of business life. 
Throughout the county he is widely and 
favorably known. 

A native of New York, Mr. ElJithorpe 
was born in the town of Edinburg, Sara- 
toga county, November 21, 1833, and is a 
son of Sampson Ellithorpe, who was born 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



221 



in the same county, in 1806. The paternal 
grandfather, Wyley Ellithorpe, was also a 
native of New York, his father having 
removed to that state from \'ermont and 
settled in Saratoga county at an early day. 
The family is of English origin, and its 
representatives were among the pioneers of 
Vermont. In his native county the father 
of our subject married Eliza Wight, who 
was born in Vermont, but who was reared 
in Saratoga county. New York. Her father. 
Squire Wight, spent his entire life in the 
Green Mountain state, where he died dur- 
ing her childhood. In 1839 Sampson Elli- 
thorpe came west by way of the Erie canal 
to Buffalo and the Great Lakes to Chicago, 
and from there he came by teams to Proph- 
etstown in company with his uncle, Solo- 
mon Ellithorpe. Near Sterling they made 
a claim of nearly one thousand acres of 
land, on which each built a hewed log house. 
He then returned east in the spring of 1840, 
and brought his family here, arriving in July, 
but was not long permitted to enjoy his new 
home, however, as he died September 5, 
1840. With the Crocker family, Mrs. Elli- 
thorpe resided in the home on Coon creek 
until the fall of 1841, when she removed to 
the neighborhood where our subject now 
lives. In the spring of 1842 she married 
Marvin Frary. She was then living in 
Prophetstown, but they later moved to a 
farm in Portland township, but in the spring 
of 1845 returned to Prophetstown township. 
After residing upon a farm there for ten 
years, they removed to another farm in the 
same neighborhood. Mrs. Frary died in 
Lyndon township August 4, 1866. By her 
first marriage she had four children, two 
sons and two daughters, namely: Bethiah, 
deceased wife of Dr. H. C. Donaldson; 
Earl S. , our subject; Alpheus, who died 



July II, 1854, when a young man; and 
Lucelia, who died in childhood. There was 
one child by the second marriage — Cordelia, 
wife of F. N. Brewer, at whose home in 
Lyndon township the mother died. 

Our subject was not quite seven years 
old when he came to Whiteside county. 
He remained with his mother until he at- 
tained his majority, and received a rather 
limited education in the schools of this sec- 
tion, which at that time were much inferior 
to those of the present day. On the 27th 
of March, 1856, he married Miss Mary J. 
Averill, a native of Vermont, and a daugh- 
ter of Mark R. and Ada (Durin) Averill, also 
natives of that state, whence they came to 
Illinois in 1852, locating in 1854 on the 
farm in Prophetstown township, Whiteside 
county, where our subject now resides. 
Upon that place Mr. and Mrs. Ellithorpe 
began their married life. After renting the 
farm for seven years, they removed to 
Hume township, in 1863, and there he pur- 
chased three hundred and twenty acres of 
land, which he improved and operated for 
two years. Selling to a good advance, he 
returned to the Averill homestead, which he 
rented from his father-in-law for three 
years, and in 1867 moved to Wheatland, 
Iowa, where he built an elevator and en- 
gaged in the grain and lumber business for 
about a year. He then purchased his pres- 
ent farm, and now owns four hundred and 
fifty acres of land which he has placed un- 
der a high state of cultivation and improved 
with good buildings, including a neat and 
commodious residence, four barns and 
other outbuildings, so that he has a valuable 
and attractive farm. He successfully car- 
ried on general farming and stock raising, 
making a specialty of sheep, of which he 
usually had from si.\ hundred to one thou- 



222 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



sand upon his place, but since 1885 he has 
rented his farm and lived retired, enjoying 
the fruits of former toil. 

To Mr. and Mrs. EUithorpe was born 
one daughter, Luanna, who died August 10, 
1895, and was laid to rest in the Prophets- 
town cemetery. In 1885 the family spent 
six months on the Pacific coast, and again 
in 1897, Mr. and Mrs. EUithorpe visited 
California, where they remained four 
months, stopping at various places. He 
cast his first presidential vote for John C. 
Fremont, in 1856, and has since been un- 
swerving in his allegiance to the Republican 
party and its principles. He attends church 
with his wife, who is a member of the Con- 
gregational church, and he gives to its sup- 
port, although he is not a member of any 
religious denomination. For almost sixty 
years he has made his home in this county, 
and his name is inseparably connected with 
its agricultural interests, for he has labored 
earnestly in the development of a good 
farm and has been an important factor in 
the wonderful transformation that has taken 
place here during that period. Upright and 
honorable in all the relations of life, he well 
merits the high regard in which he is held 
by all who know him. 



TRA F. AND ORIAN ABIJAH HOAR 
1 constitute the firm of Hoak Brothers and 
are prominent young business men Sterling. 
They are engaged in the manufacture of 
carriages, do first-class carriage painting, 
and all kinds of fine and difficult blacksmith- 
ing, general repairing, and sharpen and 
adjust lawn mowers. In December 1898, 
they patented and put on the market a new 
type of tire bolt cutter which met with 
immediate success wherever shown to car- 
riage builders. Another bolt cutter for use 



on any surface has just been perfected by 
them and will shortly be placed on the 
market. The tools are simple, effective 
and cheap and will no doubt prove to be 
a source of large revenue to their owners to 
come. Their shop, a large frame structure 
on East Third street near Sixth avenue, be- 
longs to them and has been enlarged from 
time to time as an increase in business 
demanded additional room. Though the 
business has been established but four years 
it has grown to a proportion far beyond 
their most sanguine hopes. This rapid 
growth may be attributed to the fact that 
the work done is strictly reliable and every 
article producted is given an unqualified 
guarantee for worth. 

Ira F. Hoak was born near Brookville, 
Ogle county, Illinois, June 20, 1869, O. A. 
in Whiteside county, in 1875. They were 
educated in the common schools of this 
county and were graduated from the Sterl- 
ing high school. After laying aside his text 
books the older brother learned the car- 
penter's trade, and later inside wood work 
and carriage making, while the younger 
took up the blacksmith's trade. They con- 
tinued to work for others until 1S95, when 
they formed a partnership, and under the 
name of Hoak Brothers have since engaged 
in their present business, and are meeting 
with most gratifying success. They are 
members of the German Baptist church, and 
are held in high regard by all with whom 
they come in contact either in business or 
social life. O. A. Hoak married Miss Clara 
Journay, of Sterling, and has one child. 
Lloyd. 

Henry S. Hoak, father of our subjects, 
was born ten miles from Lancaster, Penn- 
sylvania, January 19, 1835, and is a son of 
Henry and Elizabeth (Hersh) Hoak, natives 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



223 



of the same place, the former born in 1787, 
the latter in 1788. The grandfather was 
educated at Lancaster and became one of 
the first teachers under the free school 
system in that section of the country. He 
first taught in his own home, and finally in 
public school houses, and continued to fol- 
low that profession in connection with farm- 
ing for some years. He was a man of 
prominence and influence in his community, 
his advice was often sought, and he was 
many times called upon to serve as adminis- 
trator and executor of estates and also as 
conveyancer. He died before the birth of 
the father of our subjects, who was the 
youngest in a family of nine children, and 
his wife died six 'years later. Both were 
of German descent. The family was founded 
in America by Conrad Hoak, a native of 
Leipsic, Germany, who crossed the Atlantic 
at an early day and took up his residence in 
Pennsylvania, his last years being passed in 
Lancaster. His son Andrew was the great- 
grandfather of our subjects. He was only 
two years old when brought by his father to 
the new world, and he became a well-to-do 
and prominent farmer of Pennsylvania. He 
held office in the German Reformed church, 
of which he was a strong supporter, and all 
of the family have been zealous in religious 
work. 

Henry S. Hoak attended first the pub- 
lic schools of his native state and later was a 
student at the State Normal School in Millers- 
ville, Lancaster county, for three years, but 
in the meantime he taught school at intervals 
in order to pay for his own education. In 
1854 he entered upon that profession in 
Conestoga township, Lancaster county, 
where he taught for six months out of the 
year, receiving twenty-five dollars per month 
and his board. He taught one school in 



Pequa township, the same county, for six 
years, and his wages there amounted to forty 
dollars. Later he taught in Strasburg 
township, the high school at Hempfield, and 
in other places in that section of Pennsyl- 
vania, where he was thus employed for six- 
teen years. 

On the 30th of June, 1868, Mr. Hoak 
married Miss Letitia N. Hull, of Strasburg, 
a daughter of George Hull, a carpenter, 
who was also of German descent, and was 
one of the old residents of Strasburg. They 
have four children living, namely: Ira P.; 
Iva Jennie, who has been for three years a 
teacher in the Lincoln school, and for five 
years prior to that had been a teacher; 
Orian Abijah and Harry Leroy. 

The same year of his marriage, Mr. Hoak 
came to Illinois, and first settled near Burr 
Oak Grove, in Ogle county, but in 1870 
came to Whiteside county and took charge 
of a school in Gait. The following year he 
removed to Sterling, where he has since 
made his home with the exception of five 
years when teaching in Jordan township. 
For seventeen years he has successfully 
taught school indifferent parts of this county 
around Sterling, and has followed the pro- 
fession for thirty-three years, being the 
oldest teacher in point of service in the 
county. He has been an active and promi- 
nent memberof the German Baptist Brethren 
church for ten years. In their dress and 
non-resistant principles they are similar to 
the Reformed church, with which he was 
connected when a boy. He and his son 
were the first baptized into the church after 
his organization here, and there were but 
two members prior to that time. He raised 
about half the mouey for the erection of 
their house of worship, and takes a very 
active part in all church work. 



224 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



BARNEY McGRADY. Among the in- 
fluential members of the farming com- 
munity of Tampico township and one of its 
prosperous citizens, is the gentleman whose 
name introduces this sketch. He is entirely 
a seif-made man in the true sense of the 
word, having been the architect of his own 
fortunes, and his success in life is attribut- 
able to his untiring industry, indomitable 
energy and laudable ambition. 

Mr. McGrady was born in Cattaraugus 
county. New York, November 27, 1845, a 
son of James and Mary McGrady, farming 
people of that county. In i860 the father 
came to Whiteside county, Illinois, and pur- 
chased one hundred and sixty acres of land 
in Prophetstovvn township, where he suc- 
cessfully engaged in farming for a time, but 
finally sold his place and moved to Nebraska, 
spending his last years near Loup City. 

The early educational advantages of our 
subject were somewhat meager as he began 
life for himself by working as a farm hand 
at the age of eleven years. He was fifteen 
when, in the fall of i860, he removed with 
the family from New York to this county, 
and here continued to work for others at 
farm labor until after the Civil war broke 
out. In the fall of 1862, at the age of sev- 
enteen years, he enlisted in Company D, 
Seventy-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, 
which was assigned to the Army of the Ten- 
nessee, and the first battle in which he took 
part was the engagement at Perryville, Ken- 
tucky. With his command he followed 
Hood to Nashville; later was in the battles 
of Murfreesboro and Chattanooga; was in 
the Atlanta campaign; went with Sherman 
to Savannah, Georgia; and participated in 
the battle of Bentonville, North Carolina, — 
the last engagement of the war. The regi- 
ment then marched through Richmond to 



Washington, D. C, and from there to Park- 
ersburg. West Virginia, and from that city 
proceeded by boat to Louisville, Kentucky, 
whence they went by railroad to Chicago, 
where they were honorably discharged in 
July, 1865. While Mr. McGrady partici- 
pated in many battles and skirmishes and 
had his clothes pierced by bullets, he fort- 
unately was never wounded, though he was 
ill for six months in the hospital at Nash- 
ville. He returned home with a war record 
of which he may be justly proud, and re- 
sumed his farm work. 

In Prophetstown, September 11, 1867, 
Mr. McGrady was united in marriage with 
Miss Ocelia Tabor, who was born and reared 
on a farm in Portland township, and is a 
daughter of William P. Tabor, one of the 
prominent farmers of the county, who is 
represented on another page of this work. 
Mr. and Mrs. McGrady have become the 
parents of five children, namely: William, 
Ralph, Burt, Pearl and Florence. Ralph is 
married but still continues on the home 
farm, and the others are all under the pa- 
rental roof. 

After his marriage, Mr. McGrady pur- 
chased forty acres of raw land where he 
now resides, and after erecting a small 
house thereon, he commenced to improve 
and cultivate his farm. To his original 
purchase he has added from time to time as 
his financial resources have permitted, at 
one time buying one hundred and twenty 
acres of the Dow estate, and now has a val- 
uable farm of two hundred and forty acres 
under a high state of cultivation and im- 
proved with good buildings, surrounded by 
fruit and shade trees. In connection with 
general farming, he is interested in stock 
raising, feeding each year quite a number of 
hogs and several head of cattle for market. 



The biographical record. 



i2§ 



While home on a furlough during the 
war, Mr. McCjrady cast his first presidential 
vote for Abraham Lincoln, in 1864, and has 
since been an earnest advocate and sup- 
porter of the Republican party and its prin- 
ciples. For nme consecutive years he filled 
the office of highway commissioner, and has 
been a member of the school board twenty 
years, serving as its president at the present 
time. Socially he is a Royal Arch Mason, 
a member of the lodge in Prophetstown, 
and belongs to the Grand Army post of 
Tainpico. His residence in this county 
covers a period of forty years, and he has 
ever manifested the same loyalty in days of 
peace as in times of war, when he fought so 
valiantly for the old flag and the cause it 
represented. 



ANDREW K. HABERER. Much of the 
civilization of the world has come from 
the Teutonic race. Continually moving 
westward they have taken with them the 
enterprise and advancement of their eastern 
homes and have become valued and useful 
citizens of various localities. In this coun- 
try especially they have demonstrated their 
power to adapt themselves to new circum- 
stances, retaining at the same time their 
progress! veness and energy, and have become 
true and devoted citizens. A worthy repre- 
sentative of this class is Andrew K. Haber- 
er, the present popular sheriff of Whiteside 
county. 

He was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, 
April 28, 1840, a son of Jacob and Salome 
(Kergis) Haberer, both natives of Baden, 
which was their ancestral home. The father 
was born in 1805, and in early life followed 
the carpenter's trade. After hi?, marriage 
he moved to Wurtemburg, where he bought 

13 



a farm and made his home there until his 
death, which occurred in 1853. He was 
one of the most highly respected citizens of 
Peterzell, Obendorpf, held different posi- 
tions ofhonor and trust in his community, 
and was a member of the Lutheran church. 
He left a family of seven children, of whom 
our subject is the oldest son and second 
child. Our subject came alone to the new 
world, but in 1865 sent for the remainder of 
the family and made for them a home in 
Illinois. With the exception of himself all 
removed to Iowa and there the mother died 
in 1887. Christine is still a resident of 
that state; Mary makes her home in Council 
Bluffs; George died in 1867; Jacob died in 
Iowa, in 1874; John is a well-to-do farmer 
of that state; and Kate is living in Indian- 
ola, Iowa. 

Andrew K. Haberer graduated from the 
common schools of his native land, and was 
then in charge of his father's farm until 
seventeen years of age, when he was sent 
by his uncle to this country to avoid military 
service that he might care for his mother 
'and younger children. On landing in Amer- 
ica he was unable to speak a word of Eng- 
lish and was entirely dependent upon his 
own resources for a livelihood. He arrived 
in New York in the fall of 1857, which was 
a very poor time to look for work on ac- 
count of the panic brought on by the circu- 
lation of wild cat money. He proceeded at 
once to Sterling, Whiteside county, Illinois, 
where he worked on a farm until the break- 
ing out of the Civil war. 

On the 20th of .April, 1861, on the first 
call for seventy-five thousand men, Mr. 
Haberer enlisted in Company B, Thirteenth 
Illinois Volunteer Infantry, which was or- 
ganized at Di.\on, under command of Col. 
J. B. Wyman, and sworn into the United 



226 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



States service, May 24, for three years. 
From Dixon they went to East St. Louis in 
June, and the following month to St. Louis. 
They participated in the battles at Wilson's 
Creek and Pea Ridge, and numerous skir- 
mishes until they finally reached V'icksburg, 
where they took part in their first big battle, 
December 27, 28 and 29, 1862. They were 
in the battles of Arkansas Post, Champion 
Hills, Jackson, Mississippi, and the whole 
of the siege of Vicksburg, the regiment bemg 
in the front during the entire time. Mr. 
Haberer was offered but declined promo- 
tion, and after the fall of Vicksburg was 
given a furlough for meritorious conduct in 
line of battle, but gave it to a comrade. At 
this time his command was made the First 
Regiment of the First Brigade, First Divis- 
ion, Fifteenth Army Corps, under Gen. 
Logan, and started up the Mississippi to 
Memphis. From there they went by rail- 
road to Corinth, and then took part in a 
three days battle at Tuscumbia, Alabama, 
and then marched to Chattanooga, taking 
part in the battle at that place and also at 
Lookout Mountain, and Missionary Ridge. 
A few days later in the engagement at 
Ringgold, Georgia, the regiment lost heavily, 
all the field officers were either wounded or 
killed, and they were withdrawn from bat- 
tle by Capt. George P. Brown. They next 
marched to Woodville, Alabama, where Mr. 
Haberer was stricken with scurvy and sent 
to Hospital No. 19, Nashville, Tennessee, 
where he remained two months. On the 
1st of March, 1864, he was transferred to 
the Veteran Reserve Corps and sent to Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio, where he did provost guard 
duty three weeks, and later to Sandusky. 
About the 15th of May, he went to Wash- 
ington, D. C, where he was encamped un- 
til May 24, 1864, when he re-enlisted, be- 



coming a member of Company I, Seventh 
Regiment, Hancock's Veteran Reserve Corps. 
After the re-organization, he reported that 
his three years of enlistment had expired 
and was sent to Gen. Grant, who had his 
records examined. He was paid off and 
discharged on the General's orders, who 
said " this is the first man to be discharged 
in all of this war by reason of the expiration 
of three years term of service." 

Mr. Haberer returned to Sterling, and 
took a position as salesman in a mercantile 
establishment, where he was a trusted and 
efficient employe for twenty years. In 1867 
he married Miss Caroline Planthaber, who 
is also of German birth, but who came to 
this country very young with her parents. 
They had one son, John A., who was born 
November i, 1S68, and died January 15, 
1891. He was well educated and success- 
fully engaged in teaching school for a time. 
Mr. Haberer attends and supports the Con- 
gregational church, of which his wife is an 
earnest member. 

In 1869 and 1870 he was elected tax 
collector of Sterling township, Whiteside 
county, and in 1884 he was elected con- 
stable and gave his entire time and atten- 
tion to the duties of that position until 1S95, 
when he was appointed deputy sheriff under 
Sheriff Fuller and held that position for 
four years, having charge of the east end — 
the heavy end — of the county. Proving a 
most efficient man for the place, he was 
nominated and elected sheriff in 189S and 
assumed the duties of the office on the 5th 
of December, that year. He has taken an 
active part in the political affairs of the 
county for years and has been a delegate to 
numerous conventions of the Republican 
party. He is a prominent member of Rob- 
inson post. No. 274, G. A. R., of Sterling, 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



227 



of which he has been commander; was also 
a member of the Department of Illinois for 
two years, and when a delegate to the state 
department helped to elect John C. Black. 
He was one of the first past grands of the 
Independent Order of Odd Fellows in Ster- 
ling and is also an honored member of Rock 
River lodge. No. 612, F. & A. M., of Ster- 
ling; royal arch captain of Sterling chapter. 
No. 57, R. A. M., and a member of Ster- 
ling commandery, No. 57, K. T. He is 
very prominent both in social and political 
circles and is held in high regard by all who 
know him. 



JOSEPH H. BOYNTON. Eighty years 
of life, filled with useful effort and 
crowned with the respect and esteem 
of his fellow citizens, have left this ven- 
erable resident of Sterling still hale and 
hearty with every prospect of continued 
health for years to come. He is now the 
oldest citizen of the town and for over half 
a century has been prominently identified 
with its business interests. 

A native of New Hampshire. Mr. Boyn- 
ton was born in Warren, Grafton county. 
May 15, 1819, and is a son of Joseph and 
Sally (Knight) Boynton. The Boynton fam- 
ily was founded in America during the early 
days of New England. The grandfather, 
Asa Boynton, was a native of England, and 
on his emigration to the new world located 
in New Hampshire on the farm where our 
subject's birth occurred, there spending the 
remainder of his life. He was a soldier of 
the Revolutionary war. The father of our 
subject was also born on the old homestead 
farm, and the mother's birth occurred near 
that place. Her father, Samuel Knight, 
and his brother also aided the colonies in 



achieving their independence as soldiers of 
the Revolutionary war. Mrs. Boynton died 
in New Hampshire, in 1824, when our sub- 
ject was not quite five years old, leaving 
three children, namely: Orlando, Joseph 
H., and Mrs lantha E. Towl, of California, 
all now deceased with the exception of our 
subject. For his second wife the father 
wedded Miss Marian Morse, whose father 
was also a soldier of the Revolutionary war. 
While in the east the father of our subject 
carried on business for himself as a farmer, 
tanner and currier. In 1834, he removed 
with his family to St. Clair, Michigan, near 
which place he purchased a farm, .but after 
operating it for a few years located in the 
village, where he lived retired until his 
death. He was one of the pioneer members 
of the Methodist Episcopal church of that 
place, and while in New Hampshire took a 
prominent part in all church work. He not 
only served as choir master and class leader, 
but his house was always a stopping place 
for the ministers. 

The education of our subject was ac- 
quired in the schools of his native state. 
He was fifteen years of age when he accom- 
panied the family on their removal to Mich- 
igan, traveling by way of the canil to Buf- 
falo and by steairier to Detroit, which 
accommodations were considered very fine at 
that time. After two years spent in that 
state his father gave him and his brother a 
farm of two hundred acres on the Canadian 
side of the St. Clair river, where they took 
up their residence, but soon became inter- 
ested in the Patriotic Rebellion in 1837, and 
were forced to leave the country. The la- 
ther then leased the land for ninety-nine 
years and our subject went upon the lakes 
as cabin boy on the Great Western, which 
was burned in the Detroit river, in 1839. 



228 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



The following year he was employed in a 
hotel in Burlington, Iowa, and from there 
went to Plattville, Grant county, Wiscon- 
sin, where he was in business for four years 
as a dealer in general hardware, stoves, etc. 
He was also a traveling salesman and was 
thus employed until he had an attack of 
smallpox in the winter of 1843, being one 
of three who lived through a confluent case. 
After that he was in business alone, and in 
1 847 came down the Rock river and opened 
a store in Sterling. However, he still con- 
tinued to sell goods on the road for fourteen 
years, traveling as far north as the Wiscon- 
sin river, and doing a flourishing business. 
Among his customers were Long & Fox, 
whom he knew well and who were described 
by Bonney in his Bandits of the Prairie. 
Mr. Boynton is still engaged in business 
upon the lot where he opened his store in 
1847, and in the fifty-two years that have 
since passed has enjoyed a good trade. 
The hall over his store was occupied by the 
Odd Fellows Society for sixteen years and 
the Masons for eighteen. In 1863 he 
erected a good three-story hotel on the cor- 
ner of East Third street and Fourth avenue, 
and after renting it for one year, has con- 
ducted it himself, doing the largest business 
ever done in the town before or since, hav- 
ing on special days taken in five hundred 
dollars for meals alone. This hotel is now 
one of the old landmarks of the country. 
Mr. Boynton has also erected other build- 
ings in Sterling, and until recently owned 
one hundred and thirty-five feet on Third 
street, where he is located, and extending 
back to Fourth street. 

Mr. Boynton first married Miss Mary 
Ann Fitch, who died in 1856, leaving no 
children. In the fall of 1861, he was 
united in marriage with Miss Gratia Red- 



field, by whom he has one child, Grace, 
now the wife of Charles H. Ham, of New 
York. The wife and daughter are members 
of the Congregational church, to the support 
of which our subject is a contributor. 
Since the days of Abraham Lincoln, he has 
been a stanch supporter of the Republican 
party, although previously he was a Demo- 
crat, and he has filled the office of alder- 
man during his residence in Sterling. He 
arrived here five years before the railroad 
was built, and in 1852 traveled on the first 
passenger train on the old Chicago & Galena 
Railroad, running between Rockford and 
Chicago, when going to New York to buy 
goods. For fifty-two years he has been a 
merchant of Sterling, and during that time 
has always paid one hundred cents on the 
dollar. In 1857 he was twenty thousand 
dollars in debt, but managed in time to 
meet all his obligations while all of the old 
firms with whom he dealt failed. His suc- 
cess is due entirely to his own unaided ef- 
forts, and he is now a well-to-do man and 
highly respected by all who know him. 



JOHN H. WARNER. Sound judgment, 
combined with fine ability in mechan- 
ical lines, has enabled the subject of this 
biography, a well-known resident of Proph- 
etstown, Illinois, to attain a substantial 
success in life, and his history is of especial 
interest. 

Mr. Warner was born in Jefferson county, 
Missouri, November 11, 18 12, and is a son 
of Jabez Warner, a native of New England, 
who, when fifteen years of age, went to 
Missouri with a brother and located in St. 
Louis. With his brother he learned the 
cooper's trade, and later he carried on quite 
an extensive cooperage business in St. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



229 



Louis, though he made his home in Jeffer- 
son county. There he married Miss Eliza- 
beth Conner, who was reared in Missouri, 
and to them was born ten children, of 
whom our subject is the oldest, the others 
being as follows: Mary E. , who married 
Job Dodge, a merchant of Prophetstown, 
and both are now deceased; Elias B. and 
Andrew J,, deceased, both of whom married 
and reared families; Edward B., who was 
county treasurer of this county for some 
years and is now deceased; Sarah C, widow 
of Silas Sears, a farmer of this county; 
Eliza, widow of Andrew Fuller and a resi- 
dent of Sterling; Ellen M., who married 
Henry Bacon and died in southern Cali- 
fornia; M. P., a resident of Morrison; and 
Jabez F., a business man of Prophetstown, 
who died in 1899. In 1837 the father came 
to Whiteside county, Illinois, and bought a 
claim near Prophetstown, upon which he 
located the following year. He also opened 
up an adjoining farm, which is now within 
the corporate limits of Prophetstown. Here 
he spent his last days, dying in 1847. His 
wife long survived him and passed away 
when nearly ninety-nine years of age. 

The subject of this re\iew was reared 
in St. Louis and obtained a good education 
in the city schools. He learned the cooper's 
trade with his father and remained under 
the parental roof until twenty-one years of 
age. In Jefferson county, Missouri, he was 
married, March 12, 1835, to Miss Clarissa 
E. Bryant, who was born in that county 
May 28, 1 81 8, a daughter of Colonel David 
Bryant, a distinguished officer of the war of 
1 81 2. He was born in Canada and was 
reared by French people, as his mother 
died when he was a child. Later he moved 
to Jefferson county, Missouri, where he 
owned and operated a large farm, also a 



tanyard and gristmill, being one of the most 
active and prominent business men of that 
locality. 

After his marriage Mr. Warner resided 
in St. Louis for a few years and then pur- 
chased a farm in Jefferson county and 
turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. 
In 1840 he came to Whiteside county, Illi- 
nois, where he spent one year at this time. 
He took up government land, erected there- 
on a claim shanty, and while here he cut 
and made hoop poles and worked at the 
cooper's trade in Prophetstown, manufact- 
uring barrels. In 1841 he returned to his 
farm in Jefferson county, Missouri, and op- 
erated the same until 1850, when he sold 
the place and moved to Peru, Illinois, where 
he built a house and cooper shop and car- 
ried on business for two years. Disposing 
of his property there he again came to 
Prophetstown in 1852, and purchased a 
residence which has now been his home for 
forty-seven years. In partnership he en- 
gaged in the cooperage business and in pork 
packing on quite an e.xtensive scale for sev- 
eral years, and their efforts were crowned 
with success. Our subject bought two hun- 
dred acres of raw land three miles from 
Prophetstown, which he has improved and 
cultivated until it is now one of the most 
desirable farms of its size in the locality. 

Of the eight children born to Mr. and 
Mrs. Warner, four are still living, namely: 
James, a civil engineer of Oregon; Orpha, 
wife of George Shaw, of Prophetstown; 
William, who is married, has two children 
and resides in Prophetstown, and Frank, 
who is also married and living in that 
place. Those deceased are Mary Josephine, 
who died at the age of one year; Thomas 
Edward, who died in childhood; Adaline, 
deceased wife of N. J. Thomas, of Aurora, 



!30 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



and Emma, deceased wife of Edward 
Loomis. 

In his political affiliations Mr. Warner 
was originally an old-line Whig, but since 
supporting Abraham Lincoln for the presi- 
dency in I S6o, he has been a stanch Repub- 
lican. Although he has never sought polit- 
ical preferment, he was elected to the first 
city council of Prophetstown, and most 
capably filled that position for several years. 
He has been prominently identified with the 
growth and upbuilding of the place, and is 
one of the most honored and highly re- 
spected citizens. 



JOHN M. KOHL, a leading groceryman 
of the east end of Sterling, was born in 
Cologne, Germany, July 26, 1863, a son of 
Hermann and Sophia (Frenkus) Kohl. The 
father came alone to the new world in 1869, 
and was thirty-three days in crossing the 
Atlantic. He located in Sterling and six 
months later was joined by his wife, who 
brought with her their five children, which 
made it a hard journey for her. Shortly 
after his arrival here the father learned the 
cooper's trade, and for about eighteen years 
was employed in making flour barrels, and 
for a few years butter tubs. He bought 
and fitted up a home in the west end of 
town, where he still continues to live. He 
and his wife are active members and liberal 
supporters of the German Catholic church, 
and he also belongs to the German Maen- 
nerchor, having always taken quite an in- 
terest in music, especially vocal music. By 
a former marriage he had two sons, Joseph 
and Frank, now residents of Chicago. Our 
subject is the oldest of the eight children 
born of the second union, five of whom 
were born in this country. They are John 



M. ; Gertrude, now the wife of D. P. Crook, 
of Ivansas; Adam and Matthew, residents of 
Chicago; Peter, of Sterling; Isabella, wife 
of Frank Boehn, of Sterling; Rosa, at home 
with her parents; and Henry, of Sterling. 

John M. Kohl received only a limited 
common-school education, not being able to 
attend school more than si.\ months in all, 
as his mother needed his services at home. 
Later he worked on a farm for a few years, 
and while visiting friends in Chicago, who 
were in the grocery business, he was per- 
suaded to stay and enter their employ. 
During the five years he remained with 
them, he thoroughly learned the business in 
all its departments. At the end of that 
time his family insisted on his return home 
as he was ever a favorite with them, and he 
found employment with the firm of Beien & 
Detweiler, grocers of Sterling, for whom he 
clerked for eight years. He made a valua- 
ble assistant, as during his Chicago experi- 
ence he had learned to skillfully arrange the 
show windows and could wait on two cus- 
tomers while the other clerks were waiting 
on one. He also did much of the buying 
in certain lines for his employers. In part- 
nership with J. K. Eshelman, who recog- 
nized his ability, he purchased the store of 
his employers, but after one year in business 
down town, Mr. Kohl sold his interest and 
purchased a small store where he is now lo- 
cated, believing it to be a good opening 
and his predictions have been true. He 
carries a well-selected stock of staple and 
fancy groceries, and by his courteous treat- 
ment to customers has built up one of the 
best and most paying trades in his line in the 
city. He is also a wholesale and retail 
dealer in flour and feed. Besides his busi- 
ness property he ownes a good home and a 
tenement house, which are fitted up with 



IriE BIOGRAPHICAL RFXORD. 



231 



the latest iinprovements. His success in 
life is due entirely to his own well-directed 
efforts, for he started out in life for himself 
with no capital and until he attained his 
majority f;ave his wages to his parents. 
Religiously he is a member of the German 
Catholic church. 

On the 24th of November, 1S85, Mr. 
Kohl married Miss Mamie Ramsdell, a 
daughter of D. H. Ramsdell, of Sterling. 
They have one child living, Ethel, and an 
adopted son. Clar, a child of Mrs. Kohl's 
sister Clara, who is now deceased. They 
also lost one child, Paul, who died at the 
age of four years. 



HENRY WETZELL, who lives on sec- 
tion 35, Hume township, Whiteside 
county, Illinois, owns and operates a fine 
farm of one hundred and si.xty acres, whose 
neat and thrifty appearance well indicates 
his careful supervision. Substantial im- 
provements are surrounded by well tilled 
fields, and many of the accessories and con- 
veniences of a model farm are there found. 
Mr. Wetzell was born in Tuscarawas 
county, Ohio, November i i, 1843, a son of 
Jacob and Susanna (Biedler) Wetzell, also 
natives of the Buckeye state. The pater- 
nal grandparents, John and Margaret 
(Reese) Wetzell, were born, reared and 
married in Pennsylvania, and the latter 
lived to the advanced age of over ninety- 
si.x years. The father of our subject fol- 
lowed farming in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, 
until 1855, when he came to Whiteside 
county, Illinois, and bought one hundred 
and sixty acres in Genesee township, which 
he converted into a good farm. Subse- 
quently he purchased more land and now 
resides on the second farm at the age of 



eighty-five years — an honored and highly- 
respected old man. 

The subject of this sketch was a lad of 
twelve years when he came with the family 
to this county, and he assisted in opening 
up and inipro\ing the home farm. When 
his services were not needed at home, he 
attended the common schools of the neigh- 
borhood, and the knowledge thereby ac- 
quired has been greatly supplemented by 
subsequent reading and observation. On 
the nth of May, 1864, he enlisted in Com- 
pany A, One Hundred and Fortieth Illinois 
Volunteer Infantry, for one hundred days' 
service, and was with the Army of the 
Tennessee. He participated in some skir- 
mishes, but was mainly engaged in guard- 
ing railroads in Tennessee and Mississippi. 
For six weeks he lay ill in the field hospital, 
and was then honorably discharged in No- 
vember, 1864. 

Returning to his home, Mr. Wetzell was 
married in Genesee township, January 19, 
1865, to Miss Catherine Overholser, a na- 
tive of Holmes county, Ohio, and a daugh- 
ter of Martin Overholser, who came to this 
county in 1S53. Mr. and Mrs. Wetzell 
have a family of ten living children, namely: 
James Frank, who is married and engaged 
in farming in Hume township; Cerena, at 
home; John L. and William, who own a 
farm and also rent land, so that they now 
operate two hundred and forty acres; Chris- 
topher, a successful teacher, who died at 
the age of twenty-four years; Jennie, wife 
of Frank Milligan, of Tampico township; 
Rebecca, Lloyd, Oscar P., Lillian and 
Harry L., all at home; and Lola V., who 
died at the age of seventeen months. 

After his marriage Mr. Wetzell con- 
tinued his residence in Genesee township 
until 1872, when he removed to his present 



232 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



farm on section 35, Hume township, though 
at that time he only owned eighty acres. 
He built a good residence, which he has 
since enlarged, and also erected a barn and 
other outbuildings, and later purchased an 
adjoining eighty-acre tract, so that he now 
has one hundred and si.xty acres of well- 
improved land. 

At national elections Mr. Wetzell has af- 
filiated with the Republican party since cast- 
ing his first presidential vote for Abraham 
Lincoln in 1864, but in local politics he is 
independent, always supporting the men 
whom he believes best qualified to fill the 
offices regardless of party lines. He has 
been honored with a number of offices, hav- 
ing served as highway commissioner two or 
three years, assessor two years, and super- 
visor for nine consecutive years. While a 
member of the county board he served on 
a number of important committees, includ- 
ing those on equalization, claims and the 
poor farm. He has also been an efficient 
member of the school board twenty-one 
years, and is now president of the district. 
Socially he belongs to the Grand Army post 
of Sterling and the Knights of the Globe, 
and religiously his wife is a member of the 
United Brethren church, and most of his 
children belong to the Methodist Episcopal 
church. He is widely and favorably known, 
and is one of the most popular and influen- 
tial men of his community. 



AL. VAN OSDEL. In past ages the 
history of a country was the record 
of wars and conquests; to-day it is the 
record of commercial activity, and those 
whose names are foremost in its annals are 
the leaders in business circles. The con- 
quests so made are those of mind over mat- 



ter, not of man over man, and the victor is 
he who can successfully establish, control 
and operate extensive commercial interests. 
Mr. Van Osdel is unquestionably one of the 
most influential business men whose lives 
have become an essential part of the history 
of Whiteside county. He is not only promi- 
nent in business circles, but has become a 
leader in public affairs, and is now most 
creditably serving as mayor of Fulton. 

Mr. Van Osdel was born in Kendall 
county, Illinois. December 25, i860, a son 
of James M. and Margaret C. fBates) Van- 
Osdel. The father was born in 1816 in 
New York state, where he was married and 
continued to make his home until after the 
birth of four of his children. In Novem- 
ber, 1854, he moved to Millington, Kendall 
county, Illinois, where he followed the busi- 
ness of blacksmithing and wagon-making up 
to within a year of his death, which occurred 
in 1889. He had a family of ten children, 
of whom three died in infancy, those living 
to maturity being as follows: Mary, now 
the wife of E. H. Young, of Fulton; George 
C, an attorney of Aurora, Illinois; O. W., 
a Baptist miriister of Spokane Falls, Wash- 
ington; Emma, wife of Edward Budd, of 
Millbrook; Elizabeth, wife of C. Rickert, of 
Kendall county; Walter S., who is engaged 
in the sawmill and lumber business in the 
state of Mississippi; and A. L. , who is the 
youngest of the family. 

Reared under the parental roof, our sub- 
ject was educated in the schools of Milling- 
ton and worked with his father in the shop. 
He also found time, by private study, to 
procure a knowledge of civil engineering, 
which profession he took up at the age of 
twenty-four, and to which he devoted the 
following six years of his life, being in the 
employ of diflFerent railroad companies on 




MR. AND MRS. A. L. VAN OSDEL. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



J35 



survey and construction work in various 
states and territories. 

In May, 1894, Mr. Van Osdel came to 
Fulton to erect a building for the C. H. 
Rose Company of Chicago, and in March of 
the following year bought stock in the Miss- 
issippi Valley Stove Company and become its 
manager, which position he has capably filled 
ever since. He has also served as treasurer 
of the company since August, 1897. The 
Mississippi Valley Stove Company was 
founded in Fulton in 1893 by the Ohio 
Stove Company of Tiffin, Ohio, and in 1895 
was formed into a stock company, being 
purchased by local stockholders, and be- 
came the Mississippi Valley Stove Company. 
It is now one of the most important indus- 
tries in this part of the state, and under its 
present management the business has in- 
creased to ten times its former capacity, 
now amounting to over one hundred thou- 
sand dollars per year. The officers are J. 
W. Broadhead, president; J. B. Kearns, vice- 
president; and A. L. Van Osdel, manager, 
secretary and treasurer; and the works are 
conveniently located in the southeast part 
of the city, just outside the corporate limits, 
on the Northwestern and the Chicago, Mil- 
waukee & St. Paul railroads. They manu- 
facture over four hundred different styles 
and sizes of heating and cooking stoves and 
ranges. Among the most popular of these 
are the Royal Solar, Regal Solar, Rival 
Solar, and Art Solar stoves and ranges, 
which have gained their place in the trade 
by their acknowledged superior merit. Add- 
ed to their other merits, one nice feature 
of these ranges and cooking stoves is an 
oven thermometer with an indicator on the 
outside of the oven door, showing at a 
glance the exact temperature. This enables 
the operator to regulate the heat to a nicety 



and does away with the occasional " bad 
luck " incidental to guess work. 

On the 25th of June, 1895, at Fulton, 
Mr. Van Osdel married Miss Grace E. 
Mercereau, a daughter of Charles B. and 
Julia (Keeler) Mercereau, of that place. 
Religiously, our subject is a member of the 
Baptist church, while his wife belongs to 
the Presbyterian church, and fraternally he 
is a Royal Arch Mason. In political senti- 
ment he is an ardent Republican. Although 
comparatively a recent arrival in Fulton, 
he has become thoroughly identified with 
its interests and has become an important 
factor in public affairs. Broad-minded, lib- 
eral and public-spirited, he is recognized 
as a valuable addition to the community, 
and he has been honored with the highest 
office within the gift of his fellow townsmen 
— that of mayor of the city — to which posi- 
tion he was elected in May, 1899. With- 
out the aid of influence or wealth, he has 
risen to a position of prominence in the 
business world and in public affairs, and his 
native genius and actjuired ability are the 
stepping-stones on which he has mounted. 



EDWARD S. GAGE, deceased. There 
are few men more worthy of repre- 
sentation in a work of this kind than the 
subject of this biography, who was for over 
si.xty-lhree years identified with Whiteside 
county, and in his last years lived a retired 
life on his farm on section 35, Prophets- 
town township, three miles east of the vil- 
lage of that name. He had a long and busy 
career, rich with experience, and in which 
he established himself in the esteem and 
confidence of all who knew him. 

Mr. Gage was born in Ferrysburg, Ad- 
dison county, Vermont, May 5, 181 5, and 



2^6 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



on the paternal side was of Scotch-Irish 
extraction. His grandfather, George Gage, 
was one of the first settlers of Vermont, of 
of which state Captain Oakman Gage, our 
subject's father, was a native. On reach- 
ing manhood the latter married Miss Eliz- 
abeth Tupper, the first white child born in 
Ferrysburg, and a daughter of Alpha Tup- 
per, who moved there from Massachusetts. 
The father of our subject was a farmer by 
occupation and held a captain's commission 
in the war of 1812. He died in Vermont, 
in 1825, at about the age of forty years, 
but his wife long sur\'ived him and died at 
the age of eighty-two years. Of the fam- 
ily, one brother of our subject, Nathan W. , 
married and died at about thirty }ears of 
age. John W. came to Illinois, in 1839, 
and settled in Prophetstown, Whiteside 
county, where he married and where both 
he and his wife died. Moses died at the 
age of twenty years. 

In his native state Edward S. Gage was 
reared; but he received only limited educa- 
tional advantages as his father died when 
he was a lad of eleven years, and he was 
then thrown upon his own resources. He 
■commenced learning the wheelwright's trade, 
at which he worked for eight months, and 
the knowledge then acquired has proved of 
great benefit to him all through life. In 
1834 he went to Cleveland, Ohio, and stop- 
ped with an uncle at Newberg, that state, 
where he worked at farming for one year, 
later was employed in a sawmill, and the 
following year helped build a mill, which he 
afterward operated. In October, 1836, he 
canie to Whiteside county, Illinois, where 
his old friend, Johnson Walker, was living. 
He first bought a claim of eighty acres near 
Morrison, and then entered one hundred 
and sixty acres where his last days were 



spent. Before locating here, however, he 
run a ferry at Prophetstown for four years. 
At the end of that time he turned his atten- 
tion to the improvement and cultivation of 
his place, and erected thereon a good hewed- 
log house, sixteen by eighteen feet, with a 
floor and good fiue. 

At Jamison's place, in Prophetstown, 
Mr. Gage was married May 27, 1 840, to 
Miss Orpha B. Reynolds, who was born in 
Black Rock, New York, in May, 1822, a 
daughter of Judge N. G. and Phoebe (Brace) 
Reynolds. Her father was born in Massa- 
chusetts, and was married in Buffalo, New 
York. In the latter state he resided until 
the fall of 1835, when he came to White- 
side county, Illinois, and was one of the 
first to settle in Prophetstown, which place 
he named in honor of theold Indian prophet 
who resided here. He was a soldier in the 
war of I 812, and for his services was given 
a land warrant. For many years he served 
as county judge of this county, and held 
other positions of honor and trust. He died 
here in 1865, aged seventy-two years, and 
his wife departed this life in 1875, aged 
seventy-seven. Of the six children born to 
our subject and his wile, two sons died in 
infancy. The others were Sevilla, who 
married George P. Richmond and died in 
1879; Sophia, wife of Gus Edburg, who has 
operated the Gage farm for a number of 
years; P'rances, wife of Emmett Underbill, 
a farmer of Prophetstown township; and 
Phtebe C. , who died at the age of sixteen 
years. Besides their own children they 
reared a number of others, and there are 
now living four grandchildren and seven 
great-grandchildren. 

Mr. and Mrs. Gage began their married 
life in Prophetstown township, and in Octo- 
ber, 1844, removed to the farm on section 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



237 



35, which was ever afterwards their home. 
Here he owned three hundred and twenty 
acres of very valuable land, and at 
onetime he had in his possession eight hun- 
dred acres. While actively engaged in 
agricultural pursuits, he devoted consider- 
able time to raising and feeding a good 
grade of cattle and hogs. He commenced 
life for himself without means, but being 
industrious, ambitious and energetic, he met 
with decided success in his undertakings, 
and was one of the most prosperous farmers 
of his community. His success enabled him 
to lay aside all business cares and responsi- 
bilities, and spend his declining years in 
ease and quiet. He and his wife made sev- 
eral trips east to New York and Vermont, 
and have spent the winter there, visiting 
old friends and scenes familiar to their 
childhood. 

Originally Mr. Gage was a Jeffersonian 
Democrat in politics, voting for Buchanan 
in 1856; but in i860 he cast his ballot for 
Abraham Lincoln, and from that time on 
was a stanch Republican. While not a 
member of any religious denomination, he 
attended the Methodist Episcopal church 
with his wife, who is a member of that 
church. On the 21st of October, 1899, 
Mr. Gage passed quietly away, and his re- 
mains were laid to rest. He was well 
known and universally esteemed. His wile 
yet remains, and is also greatly esteemed. 



HON. GEORGE THADDEUS EL- 
LIOTT, ex- mayor of Sterling and a 
prominent grain dealer of that place, was 
born in Ames, Canajoharie township, Mont- 
gomery county. New York, October 18, 
1827, and comes of distinguished ancestry. 
The name was originally spelled Eliot, and 



it is believed that the family is of English 
Puritan stock. Elijah Elliot, father of our 
subject, was born in Connecticut, Novem- 
ber 10, 1796, and died July 9, 1873. When 
a young man he removed from his native 
state to Montgomery county, New York, 
where he engaged. in milling, and later took 
up his residence in Otsego county. New 
York, where his death occurred. He was 
married, June 2, 1820, to Miss Ann Smith, 
who died February 12, 1828, during the in- 
fancy of our subject. Her father. Major 
James Smith, served with distinction as an 
officer in the Revolutionary war. He was 
born in Connecticut of English ancestry and 
died in 1848, at the age of ninety-four years. 
Our subject's paternal grandparents were 
Rev. George and Percy (Kimball) Eliot, the 
former of whom was born in 1756, and died 
March 22, 1817, and the latter was born in 
1761, and died March 6, 1845. The grand- 
father was a Baptist minister who organized 
churches of that denomination at Burlington 
Flats, Ames, where he preached for twenty 
years, E.xeter, Starkville and Danube, Herk- 
imer county, all in New York. He was from 
Pomfret, Connecticut. He left his church 
work to serve as a private in the Revolu- 
tionary war and took an active part in that 
struggle. 

As his mother died during his infancy 
Mr. Elliott, of this review, was adopted into 
the family of Elisha Elliott, a cousin of his 
father, and with them removed to Rich- 
field Springs, Otsego county, New York, 
when eleven years of age. While his edu- 
cation was completed he entered the mill 
of his father at Springfield and learned the 
trade, remaining there until 1851. In the 
meantime he was married, October 21, 
1849, to Miss Sarah Jane Phelps, of Oneida, 
New York, a daughter of Heman H. 



238 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Phelps, who built the Syracuse & Utica 
Railroad, now a part of the New York Cen- 
tral Railroad. 

At the time of his marriage Mr. Elliott 
was living at Springfield, New York, at the 
head of Otsego Lake, where he was engaged 
in milling, until I 85 I, and during the follow- 
ing two years he was general superintendent 
of the flouring mill of Colonel H. P. Adams 
& Company, at Syracuse. In 1853 he went 
to Chicago with Colonel Adams, who had 
contracted to build the Chicago & North- 
western Railroad from Dixon to Fulton, 
Illinois, arriving in western metropolis in 
September of that year. He spent the 
winter in Muscatine, Iowa, supervising and 
watching over the railroad interests of his 
employer. Colonel Adams having failed, 
Mr. Elliott returned to Chicago, and in 
1854 opened the first wholesale flour house 
in that city, at No. 54 Randolph street. 
While there he made occasional visits to 
Belvidere, Illinois, where he controlled the 
products of a mill. He built up a large 
flour trade in Chicago and also conducted 
the old hydraulic mill at the foot of Lake 
street during the last year and a half of its 
existence. In 1856 he sold his interests in 
Chicago and removed to Davenport, Iowa, 
where he engaged in the flour business until 
the breaking out of the Civil war, when he 
returned to Chicago. He was interested in 
the flour commission business there from 
May, 1 86 1, to May, 1871, being a member 
of the board of trade, with which he had 
previously been connected from 1S54 to 
1856. There are few men now living who 
were with him on the board at that time. 
During the last ten years a building was 
erected on the corner of South Water and 
Wells streets for their use, and that was oc- 
cupied by them until their removal to the 



Chamber of Commerce. In connection 
with the flour business, Mr. Elliott dealt in 
grain quite extensively. Coming to Sterling 
in 1 87 1, he operated the old Commercial 
Mill, until the Wire Company bought the 
water power for twenty-five years. It was 
the first and largest mill built in Sterling, 
having a capacity of about one thousand 
barrels per week, and was operated exclu- 
sively in the manufacture of flour. On the 
sale of this mill, Mr. Elliott purchased his 
present elevator and moved it to the Chicago, 
Burlington & Quincy Railroad tracks. It 
has a capacity of twenty-five thousand 
bushels, but is intended to pass the grain 
from the farmers' wagons to the cars. He 
has since devoted his attention to buying 
and shipping grain, selling several hundred 
car loads a year in Chicago. His record is 
that of a man who has worked his way up- 
ward to a position of prominence by his own 
unaided efforts. His life has been one of 
industry and perseverance, and the system- 
atic and honorable business methods which 
he has followed have won him the support 
and confidence of many. 

Since the organization of the Republic- 
an party Mr. Elliott has been one of its 
stanch supporters, but never an aspirant for 
office, though he has served as mayor of the 
city — the only public position he has been 
prevailed upon to accept. During his ad- 
ministration the era of improvement was 
commenced, a good street system of sewers 
was almost completed, and city hall was 
nearly finished. He signed the first bonds 
for the city hall, amounting to fifteen thou- 
sand dollars. He was progressive and pre- 
eminently public-spirited and ever has the 
best interests of the place at heart. 

Mr. Elliott's first wife died in 1873, 
leaving four children, three sons and one 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



239 



daughter, namely: Clifford, now a resi- 
dent of Kansas City, Kansas; Lillian, widow 
of J. C. Salmon; George W., a resident of 
Chicago, who is with the Chicago Housing 
Company, and Charles, a fruit broker of the 
same city. Our subject was again married, 
August 31, 1879, his second union being 
with Miss Ellen M. Mallett, of this county, 
by whom he has two daughters, Georgiana 
and Madeline E. The family have one of 
the loveliest homes of the city, it being the 
Farwell homestead. They attend the 
Episcopal church, of which Mrs. Elliott is 
a member, and occupy a prominent posi- 
tion in social circles. 

Mrs. Elliott is descended from the old 
French aristocracy. The founder of the 
Mallett family in America was Peter Mal- 
lett, a native of Rochelle, France, who was 
born in 17 12 and from his native land fled to 
England. Being a man of considerable 
wealth he purchased a vessel and brought 
the French refugees to America, founding 
the city of New Rochelle, New York. He 
took an active part in the Revolutionary war, 
holding a prominent position in the Con- 
tinental army. He married Mary Booth. 

Their son Peter was born in 1744 and in 
1765 married Sarah Mumford. He settled 
in Wilmington, North Carolina, and was 
one of the principal founders of Fayette- 
ville, that state. His son, Edward Jones 
Mallett, was born in 1797, and married 
Sarah Fenner. He was a member of a 
noted class which graduated from Chapel 
Hill University, one of his classmates being 
President Polk. He became quite wealthy, 
was at one time consul-general to Florence, 
Italy, and later made his home in New 
York. His son, Charles Pierre Mallett, 
was born in Providence, Rhode Island, De- 
cember 20, 1824, and was educated at 



Jamaica Plains, Boston. In 1846 he came 
as a pioneer to Whiteside county, Illinois, 
and took up his residence in Como, becom- 
ing one of the extensive land owners and 
prominent builders of that place, where he 
made his home for many years. There he 
married Miss Georgiana Sampson, who was 
born in Duxbury, Massachusetts, February 
I, 1829. Her lather, Henry Briggs Samp- 
son, opened the first public house in Como 
in 1839. He was also a native of Duxbury, 
Massachusetts, and came of Majflovver 
stock. The progenitor of the family in 
America was Henry Sampson, who came to 
this country with the Filley family on the 
Mayflower in 1620, and settled in Duxbury, 
where he died December 20, 1684. His 
son Caleb married Mercy Standish, a grand- 
daughter of Miles Standish, and a daughter 
of Alexander and Sarah (Alden) Standish, 
the latter a daughter of John and Priscilla 
Alden. David Sampson, a son of Caleb, 
was born in Duxbury, in 1685, and was 
married June 5, 1712, to Mary Chapin, a 
native of Boston, who lived to the extreme 
old age of one hundred and three years. 
Their son Chapin married Bettie Clift, of 
Marshfield. Massachusetts, and among their 
children was Captain Job Sampson, who 
was born in Duxbury, September 19, 1766, 
and married Betsy Windsor, whose ances- 
tors were pioneers of Duxbury. Their son. 
Captain Henry Briggs Sampson, was born 
July 15, 1787, and died in 1865, at Como, 
Illinois, where he located in 1837. He 
married Nancy Turner, daughter of Colonel 
William Turner, who was one of General 
Washington's aids during the Revolutionary 
war. The Sampsons were principally ves- 
sel owners and sea captains. The Turner 
family is descended from Humphry Turner, 
of Essex, England, who on coming to this 



!40 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



country located in the colony of New Ply- 
mouth. 

Mrs. Elliott is a member of the Daugh- 
ters of the American Revolution, being en- 
titled to membership along several different 
lines, and she was appointed regent of the 
same, but has never organized a chapter at 
Sterling. 



EMERY D. COVELL, a representative 
farmer and highly esteemed citizen of 
Tampico township, whose home is on sec- 
tion 6, was born in Wyoming county, New 
York, December 24, 1835, and is a son of 
George R. D. and Laura (Carpenter) Covell, 
also natives of the Empire state. During 
his childhood he removed with the family to 
Genesfe count\', New York, where the fa- 
ther bought a farm and spent his remaining 
days. There both parents died. 

Our subject passed his boyhood and 
youth in much the usual manner of farmer 
boys of his day, aiding his father in improv- 
ing and carrying on home farm and attending 
school as the opportunity presented itself. 
In Genesee county, he was married, Novem- 
ber 15, 1859, the lady of his choice being 
Miss Julia E. Ervvin, who was born in 
Monroe county. New York, but was reared 
in Genesee county. They have one son, 
Clarence, who married Stella Needham and 
has eight children. He helps his father 
carry on the home farm. 

After his marriage, Mr. Covell rented 
land in Genesee county. New York, and en- 
gaged in farming there until the spring of 
1862, when he came west to Whiteside 
county, Illinois, joining his brother-in-law, 
Burt Erwin. During the first year spent 
here, he worked by the month as a farm 
hand, and the following year operated rented 



land. His first purchase consisted of eighty 
acres of raw prairie, which he fenced, broke, 
and converted into a highly productive farm. 
After farming upon that place for several 
years, he sold it at a good profit, and bought 
one hundred and twenty acres where he now 
resides. The same season he purchased 
another forty-acre tract adjoining the first, 
and has since devoted his time and attention 
to the improvement and cultivation of this 
farm, with the exception of three years 
spent in Kansas. Renting his land in 1895, 
he moved to Logan, Phillips county, Kan- 
sas, where he bought an elevator and en- 
gaged in the grain and stock business for 
three years, but in September, 1898, he sold 
his interests there and returned to his farm 
in Whiteside county, Illinois. 

In politics Mr. Covell is an ardent Re- 
publican, and has never wavered in his 
allegiance to that party since casting his 
first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln 
in i860. He has never cared for official 
honors, but at different times has served as 
school director in his district. He is largely 
interested in any movement that is for the 
improvement of his township and county, 
or that will elevate or benefit the people 
among whom he lives. He is honored and 
respected wherever known, and by his 
neighbors and friends is held in the highest 
regard. 



LAUREN E. TUTTLE, the well known 
and popular circuit clerk and recorder 
of Whiteside county, was born in Sterling, 
February 22, 1849, a son of Henry and 
Lavinia (Penrose) Tuttle. The progenitor 
of the Tuttle family in America was William 
Tuttle, who came to this country on the 
Planter in 1635 and located in Boston. The 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



241 



father of our subject was born in Greene 
county, New York, January 29, 1818, a son 
of William and Lucalle (Steele) Tuttle, 
farming people of that state. The grand- 
father was born at Wallingford, Connecti- 
cut, August 29, 1 779, and was a son of John 
and Lois (Austin) Tuttle. John Tuttle was 
also a native of the Nutmeg state and was 
a son of Lieutenant Jehiel Tuttle, who was 
a soldier in the French war of 1754 and 
1763. John recovered the horn and gun of 
his father and used them afterward in the 
Revolution. He joined the Colonial army 
at the age of thirteen years and was at Lake 
George a part of the time. For many 
years he served as commissioner of the poor 
in Greene county. New York, whither he 
removed in 178S, having previously erected 
a cabin there which vvafe torn down by the 
Indians while he returned east for his family. 
He spent his last days in that county. He 
had nine children, one of whom was Will- 
iam Tuttle, grandfather of our subject, who 
was nine years of age when the family re- 
moved to Greene county. New York. He 
was a farmer and merchant by occupation 
and served with distinction in the general 
assembly of that state. In 1841 became 
west, traveling one thousand miles overland 
in a buggy, but soon after his arrival in 
Whiteside county he was stricken with ty- 
phoid fever and died. 

In his native state Henry Tuttle grew to 
manhood, and, after receiving a common- 
school education followed farming there un- 
til 1837, when he came by way of the lakes 
to Chicago and from there to Whiteside 
county. He made the journey in company 
with A. B. and John B. Steele and Timothy 
Butler, and he purchased two hundred acres 
of land in Sterling township, of the four 
hundred acres which David Steele had 



previously taken up. At that time the 
county was very sparsely settled. He built 
the first frame house within its borders, and 
his neighbors thought him insane, believing 
it would be blown down in the first storm, 
but it is still standing in a good state of 
preservation, and is still in use. He became 
the owner of considerable land in Sterling 
township, which he finally sold in 1867, and 
purchased three hundred acres in Hopkins 
township, upon which he made hi.s home 
until his death, which occurred January 12, 
1879. He was extremely charitable and 
generous, and it is safe to say that no man 
stood higher in the esteem of his fellow- 
citizens than Henry Tuttle. His widow is 
still living, and now makes her home in 
Sterling. She belongs to the Methodist 
Episcopal church, of which he was also a 
member. Politically he was a stanch Re- 
publican, and was honored with a number 
of local offices. In their family were five 
children, of whom Lauren E., our subject, 
is the eldest; Charles E. died at the age of 
twenty-two years; Clarence H., who is con- 
nected with the Sterling National Bank, 
married Emma Bills, and had one child that 
died in infancy; Ida M. and Mary L. live 
with their mother in Sterling. 

Our subject's maternal grandfather, Ed- 
win Penrose, a son of Robert and Rachel 
Penrose, was born in Canada June 13, 1807, 
and was married in Belmont county, Ohio, 
March 5, 1828, to Miss Mary Spencer, who 
was born in that state February 18, 1S05, 
a daughter of Nathan and Ann Spencer. 
Soon after their marriage they moved to 
Kno.x county, Ohio, and from there came to 
Whiteside count}-. Illinois, in 1845, locating 
on a farm about two miles north of Sterling, 
where they resided until after the Civil war, 
when they moved to Iowa. Both died in 



242 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



that state, Mr. Penrose October 29, 1879; 
his wife April 4, 1872. They were members 
of the Society of Friends, and humble fol- 
lowers of thp Savior. Their lives were in 
perfect harmony with their professions, and 
thry were always ready to render their 
neighbors any favor within their power. At 
times Mr. Penrose held offices of public 
trust in the community where he resided. 
In his family were seven children, namely: 
Mrs. Lavinia Tuttle, born December 5, 
182S, is the mother of our subject; Mrs. 
Eliza Hulse, born April 25, 1831, is a resi- 
dent of Keota, Iowa; Mrs. Annie Hodge, 
born June 19, 1833, makes her home in 
Odebolt, Iowa; Mrs. Rachel Coe, born 
August 22, 1835, is living in Rock Falls, 
Illinois; Nathan L. Penrose, born January 
1, 1837, lives in Sterling; and Jesse A. Pen- 
rose, born September 24, 1844, makes his 
home in Sac City, Iowa. 

Lauren E. Tuttle was educated in the 
common schools and the Davenport Busi- 
ness College. After leaving school he spent 
one year at home and then accepted the po- 
sition of secretary with the Keystone Burial 
Case Company, and remained with them 
after the firm re-organized as the Rock Falls 
Manufacturing Company for a few months. 
In 1878 he was appointed deputy recorder 
by Addison Darrington, then recorder of 
Whiteside county, and acceptably filled 
that position for four years. The following 
two years he was employed as bookkeeper 
in the First National Bank of Morrison, and 
at the end of that time was elected circuit 
clerk and recorder, which offices he has 
since most creditably and satisfactorily filled 
for the long period of fifteen years. 

On the 4th of November, 1875, Mr. 
Tuttle was united in marriage with Miss 
Emily A. Ustick, who was born in White- 



side county, July 6, 1852, a daughter of 
Henry and Susan (McMullen) Ustick, now 
honored residents of Morrison. The father 
was born in Morrow county, Ohio, April 
30, 1826, the mother in Toronto, Canada, 
July 30, of the same year. They have 
eight children: Sarah E., Emily A., Ed- 
ward P., John William, Lilly D., Charles 
B., Annabel and Mitchell C. Mrs. Tuttle's 
paternal grandfather, Henry Ustick, Sr., 
was one of the earliest settlers of this coun- 
ty, and Ustick township was named in his 
honor. Our subject and his wife have two 
children: Ivy M., born October 2, 1878, is 
a graduate of the Morrison high school; and 
Mary L. , born November 19, 1884, is still 
attending that school. The parents both 
hold membership in the Presbyterian church, 
and Mr. Tuttle is identified with the Repub- 
lican party. He was a member of the 
board of education for eleven years, and his 
official duties have always been most faith- 
fully and efficiently performed. 



CHARLES WILLIS CABOT. White- 
side county has no more successful 
farmer and stock raiser than the gentleman 
whose name heads this sketch. He now 
owns and operates a valuable and well-im- 
proved farm of two hundred acres on sec- 
tion 3, Prophetstown township, pleasantly 
located one mile east of the village of 
Prophetstown, and that he thoroughly un- 
derstands the occupation that he has chosen 
as a life work is manifest in the thrifty ap- 
pearance of his place. 

Mr. Cabot is a native of the county, born 
on the old homestead, where he still resides, 
March 9, 1857. As a young man his father, 
Hubbard S. Cabot, became one of the pio- 
neer settlers of this region, and entered the 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



243 



land from the government where his son 
now resides. He opened up the farm and 
was numbered among the most active and 
progressive agriculturists of the community. 
On locating here he hauled the lumber to 
build his house and barn from Chicago, and 
all his farm produce he sold in that city, re- 
turning home with provisions and supplies. 
In this county he married Catherine Sears, 
a native of Massachusetts and one of the 
pioneer teachers of the county. Her father, 
Rev. Reuben Sears, was one of the first 
ministers of the county, and he died here at 
an early day. Mr. Cabot was accidentally 
killed by a falling tree, in March, 1862, 
leaving his wife with four children, whom 
she reared and educated in a most com- 
mendable manner. All reached years of 
maturity, but only two are now living. 
Sarah, the oldest, was well educated and 
became a teacher in the city schools of Ster- 
ling, but died when a young lady. Norman 
died in Grinell, Iowa, at the age of nineteen 
years, while attending college there. Mar\', 
also a teacher in early life, is now the wife 
of Thomas Diller, of Sterling. Charles 
Willis completes the family. 

Our subject grew to manhood on the 
home farm, and his early education, acquired 
in the public schools of Prophetstown, was 
supplemented by one year's attendance at 
the State Normal at Bloomington and a 
course at the normal in Valparaiso, Indiana. 
At the early age of fifteen years he took 
charge of the farm, and has since made 
many substantial and permanent improve- 
ments on it, remodeling the house, build- 
ings, barns, outbuildings, fences, etc. As 
a stock breeder he ranks among the best. 
He raises a good grade of cattle, but his 
specialty is hogs and draft horses and road- 
sters. At the state fair he took first pre- 

14 



mium, in 1897, for having the largest yield 
of corn to the acre in the state, and in 1898 
took second premium. He was again a 
contestant in 1899 and took the first pre- 
mium. 

In August, 1885, at Davenport, Iowa, 
Mr. Cabot was united in marriage with Miss 
Ethel B. Warner, a native of this county, 
who was educated in Morrison and was a 
successful teacher for some years prior to 
her marriage. She is a daughter of Pleas- 
ant Warner, of Morrison. Our subject and 
his wife have three children: Norman, Katie 
and Fannie Fern. 

Politically, Mr. Cabot is a true blue Re- 
publican, and has never failed to support 
every presidential candidate of that party 
since attaining his majority. Fraternally 
he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of 
America, the Royal Neighbors and the Mys- 
tic Workers of the World, while his wife is 
a member of the Eastern Star of the Ma- 
sonic order, the Royal Neighbors and Mj'stic 
Workers of the World. Their pleasant 
home is the abode of hospitality, and in the 
best social circles of the community they 
occupy an enviable position. 



ELIAS H. KILMER, a well-known agri- 
culturist residing on section 36, Proph- 
etstown township, is not only one of the 
valued citizens of Whiteside county, but 
was also one of the brave defenders of the 
Union during the dark days of the Civil 
war, devoting over four years of early man- 
wood to the service of his countrj'. 

Mr. Kilmer was born in Oswego county, 
New York, December i, 1839, a son of 
Elias T. and Bertha (Smith) Kilmer, also 
natives of the Empire state. The father 
was a farmer of Oswego county, and con- 



244 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



tinued his residence there until after the 
birth of several of his children. He came 
west in 1847 by way of the Great Lakes to 
Chicago, and from there proceeded to Ken- 
dall county, Illinois, where he followed 
farming. The last years of his life were 
spent in Newark, where he died in March, 
1893, at the advanced age of ninety-two 
years. The mother of our subject passed 
away in 1854, and he later married again. 

Elias H. Kilmer was a lad of seven 
years when he came with the family to this 
state, and in Kendall county he grew to 
manhood. As his school privileges were 
limited, he was almost wholly self-educated. 
His mother died when he was a lad of four- 
teen years, and for several years thereafter 
his life was one of hardships and toil upon 
the farm. On the 24th of April, 1861, at 
the first call for three-years troops, he en- 
listed in Company K, Twentieth Illinois Vol- 
unteer Infantry, which was assigned to the 
Army of the Tennessee. His first engage- 
ment was at Fredericksburg. Missouri, and 
was followed by the battles of Fort Henry, 
Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Britton's Lane, Port 
Gibson, Raymond and Champion Hill. For 
fortj'-seven days he was in battle around 
Vicksburg, and helped to capture that 
stronghold. He was ill in the hospital at 
St. Louis for a short time during the spring 
of 1862, but remained in the service until the 
expiration of his term of enlistment, being 
honorably discharged July 14, 1864. On 
the 4th of the following September, he re- 
enlisted, joining the One Hundred and 
Forty-sixth Illinois Infantry, with which he 
served until the close of the war. He was 
mustered out July 8, 1865, with the rank 
of sergeant and after being discharged re- 
turned to his home in Ivendall county. 

Mr. Kilmer first came to Whiteside 



county in the spring of 1866 and rent- 
ed a farm in Tampico township. On the 
1 6th of September, of that year, he was 
married, in Tampico, to Miss Emerett Rob- 
inson, who was born in Berrien county, 
Michigan, and came to Henry county, Illi- 
nois, when a child of ten years with her 
mother and step-father, Mr. and Mrs. Ben- 
jamin Lane. Her father was Joel Robin- 
son, a native of New York, who was an 
early settler of Michigan and died in that 
state during her childhood. In the fall of 
1866, Mr. and Mrs. Ivilmer went to Iowa, 
where they spent one year, and then re- 
turned to this state. He then engaged in 
farming upon rented land in Whiteside 
county, but lived just across the line in 
Henry county for several years. In 1880 
he purchased eighty acres of partially im- 
proved land on section 36, Prophetstown 
township, where he has since, made his 
home. Here he has erected a pleasant res- 
idence and just completed a large, substan- 
tial barn, one of the best in the neighbor- 
hood. He carries on general farming and 
stock raising, makmg a specialty of hogs, 
and is accounted one of the most successful 
farmers and stock men in the community. 
On starting out in life together he and his 
wife were in limited circumstances, but by 
their combined efforts, untiring industrj' and 
good management they have become quite 
well-to-do. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Kilmer was born one 
child, Eugene, who died at the age of six- 
teen months. Out of the kindness of their 
hearts they have given homes to two others, 
Alanson Bishop, a nephew, who lived with 
them from the age of twelve years until his 
death in 1888, when twenty-seven years of 
age; and Grace Wildman, who has found a 
pleasant home with them since a child of 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



245 



ten years. Mrs. Kilmer is an active mem- 
ber of the Methodist Episcopal church and 
a most estimable lady. Since casting his 
first presidential ballot for General U. S. 
Grant, in 1868, Mr. Kilmer has been a 
stanch supporter of the Republican party 
and its principles, and he is an honored 
member of the Grand Army Post of Proph- 
etstown. A loyal and patriotic citizen, he 
is found as true to his duties of citizenship 
in times of peace as when he followed the 
old flag to victory on southern battle fields. 



PETER THOMSEN, who is successfully 
engaged in business in Fulton, Illinois, 
was born in W'innert, Schleswig-Holstein, 
Germany, September 11, 1859, and is a son 
of John and Catherine (Clausen) Thomsen, 
also of German birth. The father was a 
contractor and builder in the service of the 
government, constructing roads and bridges. 
He died in Germany, in 1897, but the 
mother survives and still resides in the 
Fatherland. Our subject is the third in 
order of birth in a family of nine children, 
and the only one livmg in this country. 

Mr. Thomsen received a collegiate 
education at Humsum, Germany, and during 
his youth assisted his father in business. 
He also served for two years as a soldier in 
the German army. He then came to 
America, landing in New York City, April 
12, 1884, and during the first three months 
spent in this country, he worked on a fruit 
farm near Dover, Delaware. In July, 
1884, he went to Lyons, Iowa, where he 
was employed in the sawmill of a Mr. Joyce 
for two seasons. He then accepted the 
agency for the Rock Island Brewing Com- 
pany, and was engaged with them at Lyons 
for two years and a half. There he was 



married April 5, 1887, to Miss Anna Roeh, 
a daughter of John and Margaret (Hertz- 
ner) Roeh. Her father is one of the 
pioneer merchants of Lyons, where he was 
engaged in the grocery business for over 
thirty years, but is now living retired. Mr. 
and Mrs. Thomsen have three children, 
namely: John W. , Alfred W. and Marvin. 
In 1889 Mr. Thomsen came to Fulton, 
and has since engaged in his present busi- 
ness at the corner of Cherry and River 
street with good success. In 1893 he pur- 
chased the building, which is a good three, 
story structure, the upper floor of which is 
occupied by the Masonic lodge. Fraternally 
Mr. Thomsen is a prominent member of 
Sunlight lodge. No. 239, K. P., of which he 
is past chancellor commander, and politicall}' 
he is a stanch Republican, but not a politi- 
cian in the sense of office seeking. He is 
one of the most progressive and enterpris- 
ing citizens of Fulton, is well-read and 
keeps thoroughly posted on topics of general 
interest as well as the questions and issues 
of the day. 

HON. HENRY C. WARD. In the last 
half of the present century the lawyer 
has been a pre-eminent factor in all affairs 
of private concern and national importance. 
He has been depended upon to conserve the 
best and permanent interests of the whole 
people and is a recognized power in all the 
avenues of life. He stands as the protector 
of the rights and liberties of his fellowmen 
and is the representative of a profession 
whose followers, if they would gain honor, 
fame and success, must be men of merit and 
ability. Such a one is Judge Ward, who 
occupies the bench of Whiteside county, win- 
ning high commendation by his fair and im- 
partial administration of justice. 



246 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



The Judge was born in Hendrysburgh, 
Belmont county, Ohio, November 16, 1850, 
a son of John V. and Mary A. (Mumma) 
Ward. The father was born in Chester 
county, Pennsylvania, January i, 18 10. 
The paternal grandfather, Philip Ward, was 
a native of Cecil county, Mar3land, and a 
lineal descendant of General Thomas Ward, 
who came to this country from England 
with Lord Howe during the Revolutionary 
war. From Maryland Philip Ward removed 
to Chester county, Pennsylvania, and when 
the father of our subject was quite small be- 
came a pioneer settler of Belmont county, 
Ohio, where he followed farming until 
called from this life in 1869. He was not a 
member of any church but his wife was con- 
nected with the Society of Friends. 

Leaving home at the age of eighteen 
years, John V. Ward, father of the Judge, 
began his business career as a clerk in a 
store, where he remained until buying two 
stores of his own, one in Morristown, the 
other in Hendrysburgh, Ohio. He after- 
ward united the two, concentrating his busi- 
* ness at Hendrysburgh, and in connection 
with merchandising bought pork, wool and 
tobacco in season. He acquired quite a fort- 
une for his time. Most of his produce was 
hauled to market at Baltimore, Maryland. 
Politically he was a stanch supporter of first 
the Whig and later of the Republican par- 
ties, but would accept no office except that 
of assessor. In 1874 he came to Whiteside 
county, Illinois, and lived retired in Ster- 
ling until his death, August 5, 1899. On 
the 8th of February, 1835, he was united in 
marriage with Miss Mary A. Mumma, who 
was born in Belmont county, Ohio, Feb- 
ruary 29, 1 8 12, a daughter of John Mumma, 
who was of German birth and an early set- 
tler of Belmont county. He was killed by 



a falling tree at the age of forty-two years. 
Mr. and Mrs. Ward are active and prom- 
inent members of the Methodist Episcopal 
church of Sterling and are held in high re- 
gard by all who know them. In their fam- 
ily are five children who reached years of 
maturity, of whom the Judge is the young- 
est. E. Brooks, the oldest, came to Sterl- 
ing as an attorney, and during the Civil war 
entered the Union army as captain of Com- 
pany A, Thirty-fourth Illinois Volunteer In- 
fantry, of which regiment his law partner, 
E. N. Kirk, was commissioned colonel and 
later promoted to the rank of general. Cap- 
tain Ward resigned December 5, 1862, and 
returned to Sterling, resumed the practice, 
but never recovered and died in June, 1863. 
W. Scott is a resident of Sterling. Chattie 
is the widow of John G. Manahan, a prom- 
inent attorney of Sterling, whose sketch is 
given on another page of this volume; and 
Rowena, deceased, was the wife of John F. 
Barrett. 

Judge Ward's early education, acquired 
in the common schools, was supplemented 
by a four years' course at McNeeley iNormal 
College, Harrison county, Ohio. After 
teaching school for one term in that state 
he came to Sterling, Illinois, in October, 
1872, and entered the law office of Kilgore 
& Manahan, with whom he studied for 
five years before applying for admission to 
the bar, though he gained much practical 
information by drawing up legal papers, 
taking testimony, etc. He was examined 
at Srpingfield, in January, 1877, and 
licensed to practice. In July of the same 
year he formed a partnership with Mr. Man- 
ahan, under the name of Manahan & 
Ward, and together they engaged in 
the general practice of law and patent 
litigation until January i, 1S90, when the 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



247 



partnership was dissolved and the business 
divided, Mr. Manahan taking the patent 
business exclusively, and our subject the 
general practice. During the existence of 
the firm, after the " Q " entered Sterling, 
they were employed as attorneys for that 
railroad, until the dissolution above men- 
tioned, and had a large general practice 
which our subject still enjoys. He was act- 
ive in forming the Sterling Water Company, 
of which he was secretary and a stockholder 
for sometime after its organization. 

On the i6th of May, 1877, Judge Ward 
was united in marriage with Miss Mary C. 
Anthony, daughter of Dr. J. P. Anthony, 
who is represented elsewhere in this work, 
and they have become the parents of si.x 
children, namely: Martha, Alice M., John 
A., Frank, Philip H. and Mary Helen. The 
family have a beautiful home at No. 807 
Avenue B, opposite Pennington Park, which 
was erected by the Judge in 1896. He and 
his wife hold membership in the Presbyte- 
rian church of Sterling and occupy an envia- 
ble position in the best social circles of the 
city. He is prominently identified with the 
Republican party, has stumped the county 
in its interests, and has been an important 
factor in securing its success. Under the old 
charter he was city attorney for two terms, 
being appointed to that position in 1878 
and again in 1880, and he was elected to 
the same office in 1891 and again in 1893. 
When elected county judge in 1894, he re- 
signed the former position, and so accepta- 
bly did he fill the office of judge that he was 
re-elected in 1898, and is the present in- 
cumbent. He has had no appeals taken to the 
higher courts in probate and none reversed 
in the revenue cases that have been ap- 
pealed. He has ever taken an active and 
prominent part in public affairs, has been a 



director of the public library for many years, 
and a member of the board of education of 
the Wallace school for about fifteen years. 
He is a prominent Mason, master of 
Rock River lodge, No. 612, F. & A. M., 
which he has represented in the grand 
lodge, and also belongs to Sterling chapter, 
No. 57, R. A. M., and Sterling command- 
ery, No. 57, K. T., of which he is junior 
warden at the present time. He is very 
popular with all classes, and prominent and 
influential in professional, social and polit- 
ical circles. 



OLIVER D. OLSON, whose fine farm of 
two hundred and eighty acres is lo- 
cated on section 9, Tampico township, within 
two miles of the village of that name, has 
been a resident of Whiteside county since 
1854. He is a native of Sweden, born May 
21, 1850, and came to the United States 
with his father, John Olson, in 1853. His 
father first located in Lee county, near the 
city of Dixon, and there remained until the 
following year, when he came to \Vhiteside 
county, where he opened up a farm in Tam- 
pico township, there reared his family, and 
spent his last days, dying in February, 
188S. 

The subject of this sketch was but four 
years old when he came with his father to 
this county. Here the remainder of his 
life has since been spent. Educated in the 
common schools of the neighborhood, heat- 
tended school at such time as his labor was 
not needed on the farm. He remained at 
home, assisting in the labors of the farm, 
until after he had attained his majority. 
He was married in Moline, Illinois, January 
I, 1870, to Miss Chastine Munson, also a 
native of Sweden, where she grew to wo- 



248 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



manhood, after which she came to the 
United States. By this union six children 
were born: Matilda Josephine married Burt 
Morris, but died in July, 1896. Frank 
Herman is engaged in railroad work, in the 
employ of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy 
Railroad. Joseph Merton is carrying on the 
home farm. Edward Theodore is now liv- 
ing in Minnesota. He is a well-educated 
young man and is engaged in teaching. 
Agnes Caroline is a student in the Normal 
College at Valparaiso, Indiana. Minnie 
Dora is the wife of Arthur Aldrich, of Tam- 
pico township. 

After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Olson lo- 
cated on the farm where they now reside, 
but which then cojjsisted of only eighty 
acres, but which was purchased by him in 
1869. The land was raw prairie and with- 
out improvements of any kind, and Mr. Ol- 
son at once went to work to redeem it from 
its virgin estate. He later bought one hun- 
dred and twenty acres additional, and still 
later another eighty, giving him his present 
fine farm. For a time he also owned a 
farm of one hundred and forty acres in 
Hahnaman township, but he has since sold 
the same. On his home place he has built 
various outbuildings, barns, and his present 
comfortable residence. The fruit and orna- 
mental trees were all put out by his own 
hands, and in fact all the improvements 
now seen is due to him. In addition to the 
raising of grain, he has given much of his 
time to stock raising, in which line he has 
been quite successful. Each year he feeds 
and fattens several car loads of stock for 
the markets. 

In the public schools Mr. Olson has al- 
ways shown a commendable interest, and to 
further the best interests of the schools he 
has served for some years as a member of 



the school board. He has given each of his 
children good educational advantages, and 
they have shown themselves worthy of it. 
For several years he served as road com- 
missioner and gave much of his time to the 
roads in his district. In politics he has al- 
ways been a Republican, and from Grant in 
1872 to McKinley in 1896, he has voted the 
party ticket. 

In religion Mr. and Mrs. Olson are mem- 
bers of the Methodist Episcopal church of 
Tampico, and take an active interest in the 
work of the church and the spread of the 
gospel. Fraternally he is a Master Mason, 
holding membership with the lodge in Tam- 
pico. He and his wife are also members of 
the Order of the Eastern Star. He is like- 
wise a member of the Modern Woodmen of 
America and of the Knights of the Globe. 
As a farmer he has been a success, and 
while he had a little assistance from his fa- 
ther in beginning the struggle of life, the 
greater part of his possessions has been ac- 
quired by his own industry, assisted by his 
good wife. For forty- five years he has 
been a resident of the county, and in that 
time what vast changes have been made.' 
When he came, there was not a mile of 
railroad in the county, the country was 
nearly all in its primitive state, and to his 
industry, and to the noble band of pioneers, 
the present condition of the county is largely 
due. 



FRANK ANTHONY, M. D. One of 
the most exacting of all the higher lines 
of occupation to which a man may lend his 
energies is that of the physician, A most 
scrupulous preliminary training is demand- 
ed, a nicety of judgment but little under- 
stood by the laity. Our subject is well 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



249 



fitted for the profession which he has chosen 
as a life work, and his skill and ability have 
won for him a lucrative practice. 

Dr. Anthony has spent his entire life in 
Stalling, where he was born, March 9, 1858, 
a son of Julius P. and Martha J. (Parke) 
Anthony. The father was a native of 
Skaneateless, Onondaga county, New York, 
where he was rehired upon a farm. His 
early education acquired in the common 
schools of Skaneateless, was supplemented 
by a course in the academy at Homer, New 
York. He paid his own way through 
school and when his education was com- 
pleted, he engaged in teaching for a time. 
Subsequently he commenced the study of 
medicine with Dr. Parke, of Danville, 
Pennsylvania, and later attended lectures 
at the Berkshire Medical College, of Pitts- 
field. Massachusetts, from wiiich institution 
he was graduated in the class of 1847. He 
married the daughter of his preceptor, Dr. 
Parke, and in i 847 they came west by way 
of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, locating 
first at Comanche, Iowa. In the spring 
of 1850 they came to Sterling, which at that 
time was a very small place as the railroad 
had not yet been built. He was one of the 
best educated and tnost successful physi- 
cians of the place, and during early days his 
practice extended as far as Savannah and 
Geneseo, Illinois. While making profes- 
sional visits throughout the country he trav- 
eled on horseback or in a sulky. During 
the Civil war he was surgeon of the Sixty- 
first Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was 
with the regiment in the field all through 
the service. He received a wound and 
made light of it at the time, but it eventu- 
ally killed him. During his early residence 
here. Dr. J. P. Anthony invested largely in 
both city and farm property, built a good_ 



many houses and some business blocks, and 
became quite prosperous. After his return 
from the war he resumed private practice 
and up to the time of his death was one of 
the leading physicians of the county. He 
was also surgeon for the Chicago & North- 
western Railroad and was the originator 
and main supporter of the free bridge over 
the river at Sterling, which now stands as a 
monument to his memory. He was one of 
the originators and president of the County 
Medical Society, now non-existent, and also 
belonged to the State Medical Society, 
Sterling lodge, I. O. O. F., and Will Rob- 
inson post, G. A. R., of which he was one 
of the most prominent members and surgeon 
for many years. It was largely through his 
instrumentality that the free library was es- 
tablished at Sterling, and he took an active 
part in promoting any enterprise for the 
public good. Politically he was identified 
with the Republican party. He passed 
away June 8, 1891, and in his death the 
community realized that it had lost one of 
its most valued and useful citizens. His 
wife died in February, 188S. They at- 
tended and supported the Presbyterian 
church. Their children were Pamelia, Dar- 
win H., Martha L., Mary C. and Frank. 

Dr. Frank Anthony, whose name intro- 
duces this sketch, pursued his studies in the 
common schools and an academy, and then 
attended Beloit College, Beloit, Wisconsin. 
He read medicine with his father and took 
a three years course at Rush Medical Col- 
lege, Chicago, from which he was graduated 
in 1 88 1. Returning to Sterling he engaged 
in practice with his father until the latter's 
death. From the start he has been remark- 
ably successful and is to-day one of the 
leading medical practitioners of the county. 
He has been surgeon for the Chicago & 



!50 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Northwestern Railroad for fifteen years and 
for that company has done considerable 
work. In 1891 he was made surgeon of the 
Sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was 
with his regiment in the Cuban and Porto 
Rico campaigns during our recent war with 
Spain. He was on the second boat that 
landed and was in the first skirmish on the 
island. At the end of six months he re- 
turned to the United States September 9, 
1S98, and was mustered out of the United 
States service November 25. He has since 
given his time and attention to his private 
practice. 

On the 4th of October, 1882, Dr. An- 
thony married Miss Nellie Persels, of Beloit, 
Wisconsin, and to them have been born two 
children: Nellie and Hazel. The family 
reside at No. 202 West Fourth street and 
attend the Presbyterian church. Fraternally, 
the Doctor is a member of the Rock River 
\'alley Medical Society, the State Medical 
Society, the National Medical Association, 
and the Railway Surgeons Association. He 
still belongs to National Guards, and is a 
member of the A. O. U. W., the Knights 
of the Globe, and the blue lodge, chapter 
and commandery of the Masonic order, all 
of Sterling. His political support is always 
given the men and measures of the Repub- 
lican party. Like his father he is public 
spirited and progressive, and gives his influ- 
ence to every enterprise for the public good. 



JAMES R. BELL. The prosperity of 
any community depends upon its busi- 
ness activity, and the enterprise manifest in 
commercial circles is the foundation upon 
which is builded the material welfare of 
town, state and nation. The most impor- 
tant factors in public life at the present day 



are therefore men who are in control of 
successful business interests and such a one 
is Mr. Bell, president of the Sterling Na- 
tional Bank, of Sterling, Illinois, and the 
oldest business man of the city. 

Mr. Bell was born in Goffstown, New 
Hampshire, June 8, (825, a son of Jona- 
than and Lydia (Dow) Bell. The father, 
who was an agriculturist, was born on 
the same farm in Goffstown, the land hav- 
ing been entered from the government by 
the grandfather, Jonathan Bell, Sr. , after 
his return from the Revolutionary war as a 
member of a Massachusetts regiment. He 
was born in New Hampshire, though his 
father came from the north of Ireland and 
was of Scotch ancestry, while his wife, 
Deborah, was of English descent. He 
served all through the Revolution. He 
was a pioneer of Goffstown, where from a 
heavily timbered tract of land he developed 
a good farm. From his place the English 
cut masts, and the stump of one tree cut for 
that purpose was large enough for him to turn 
his ox-team around on top of stump. He 
owned two farms and it was upon the sec- 
ond that he died at the advanced age of 
ninety years. In religious faith he was a 
strong Congregationalist. The father of 
our subject grew to manhood upon the first 
farm, which he purchased after his mar- 
riage, and there he made his home through- 
out life. He held different township offices 
of honor and trust and owned a pew in the 
old Congregational church at Goffstown, 
having a deed to the same. His wife was a 
daughter of Job Dow, who was also a rep- 
resentative of one of the pioneer families of 
that place. She died at the age of fifty-six 
years, the father at the age of seventy-four. 
Of the ten children born to them, six 
reached years of maturity, namely: Fred- 



f' 


,iJ|«L. 


f %v. 








S^4^' 


^^^^^Hb^;.- 


id 


r 



JAMES R. BELL. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



= 53 



erick, who died on the old homestead, which 
is still in the possession of the family; Mrs. 
Elinira Connor, who died in Goffstown; 
Mrs. Mary Austin, who is still living; Mrs. 
Margaret Holt, who died in Goffstown; 
James R. , our subject; Ira L., a resident of 
Goffstown. The others died young. 

During his boyhood and youth James R. 
Bell attended the common schools to a limit- 
ed extent, having to walk two miles through 
the woods where no roads have been laid 
out. Being one of the oldest sons of the 
family his services were needed at home 
during the summer months, but for twelve 
or si.xteen weeks he was a student at the 
winter schools until about sixteen years of 
age. Later he attended a select school for 
a time and then worked with his fa- 
therupon the farm until nineteen years 
of age, when he was given his time. 
As an apprentice he learned the shoe- 
maker's trade at Goffstown and then 
worked at the same for a manufacturing 
company near Manchester for three years. 
At the end of that time he went to Rushford, 
Allegany county. New York, where he 
worked for an uncle who was in the shoe 
and tanning business, and two years later 
he was offered an interest in the business 
or the privilege of taking the shop and run- 
ning it, and he chose the latter. While at 
that place he was mirried, July 19, 1852, 
to Miss Salome Gordon, a daughter of Will- 
iam Gordon, who was born in Vermont of 
Scotch parentage, and became a pioneer 
business man of Allegany county. New 
York. Mrs. Bell was born in Rushford, 
and her oldest brother was the first white 
male chil 1 born in Allegany county. Our 
subject and his wife have two children: ([) 
William J. , who is a partner of his father in 
business, married Mary E. Cochran and has 



three children: Russell, who is also a 
member of the firm; Verna; and Herbert 
E. (2) Samuel G.,who resides on a farm of 
our subject in Whiteside county, married 
Ella Erb and has two daughters, Winnie 
May and Bertha. 

Mr. Bell rented and operated his uncle's 
shop in Rushford, New York, for five or six 
years, during which time he secured a good 
start. Hearing of the valuable land in 
Whiteside county, Illinois, which could be 
bought cheap, he and his wife's brother 
came to this section, traveling by railroad as 
far as Geneseo, and from there on foot to 
Prophetstown. They found that the land 
which they had intended to buy had been 
practically sold, but they purchased a large 
and well improved farm in Erie township, 
which they divided in the spring of 1854. 
A few years later, when the railroad was be- 
ing surveyed through the county, Mr. Bell 
was offered double the amount which he 
paid for the farm and accordingly sold his 
portion. On the ist of April, 1864, he 
hitched up a young team to a lumber wagon, 
and with his wife and two small children 
left Rushford, New York, bound for White- 
side county, Illinois. They drove to Buffa- 
lo, a distance of fifty miles, and then boarded 
a vessel to cross the lake. They encount- 
ered a terrible gale, during which even the 
officers expected the ship to sink, but they 
finally reached Monroe, Michigan, in safety, 
and from there proceeded to Chicago by 
rail. They brought a hired man with them, 
as well as their team and wagon, and from 
Chicago drove to the farm which Mr. Bell 
had previously purchased in Whiteside 
county. In early days he hauled all his 
produce to market in Dixon. In the fall of 
1856, when the Chicago & Northwestern 
Railroad was built, he removed to Sterling, 



254 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



purchased property there, built a store and 
embarked in the shoe business. There was 
practically no town here at that time, but 
the survey had been made and town named, 
and a few houses been built, with two stores. 
The same fall he went to New York and 
purchased a good stock of ladies' shoes, and 
also did custom work, employing from eight 
to ten hands. His first business location 
was a half mile east of his present store, 
but when the town changed he removed to 
the latter place and built what is now known 
as the Bell block, which at that time was 
considered the best store in the town. It 
is still a good, substantial structure, the 
lower floor of which he occupies. 

For some years he engaged in the shoe 
business exclusively, but has since added 
clothing and gents' furnishing goods, his 
son, William]., being associated with him 
as a partner in this business. He has now 
been longer in business than any other man 
in the county, and is one of its most thor- 
ough, reliable and successful merchants and 
bankers. He was one of the incorporators 
and a member of the first board of directors 
•of the Sterling National Bank, and in the 
second year of its existence was elected 
president. The capital stock was soon in- 
creased from fifty to seventy-five thousand 
dollars. Under his able and judicious man- 
agement the bank has prospered from the 
start and now has twenty-five thousand 
dollars of undivided profits, besides paying 
four per cent semi-annual dividends and the 
deposits now amount to about two hundred 
thousand dollars. Every year Mr. Bell has 
been re-elected president, and the success 
of the bank is certainly due in a large meas- 
ure to him. He owns two buildings at the 
corner of Third and Locust streets — the 
principal corner in the city — having six 



store rooms below and offices above. He 
also has residence property in Sterling 
and a fine large farm in Mount Morency 
township, just across from Rock Falls, 
which he purchased because he liked good 
farms, but with no intention of living there- 
on. His own home is beautifully located at 
the corner of B avenue and Eighth street, 
where he owns a large tract of land. His 
son, William ]., has a place adjoining his 
on the north. 

Since the organization of the Republican 
party in 1856, Mr. Bell has been one of its 
stanch supporters. He was elected county 
supervisor and filled that office for six 
years, resigning that position when he went 
to California on account of his health. He 
was well pleased with the work of the 
board and their business methods and en- 
joyed the position. It was during his term 
that the question of building a bridge across 
the Rock river at Sterling was decided. 
For seven years he was a member of the 
city council and had entire charge of pur- 
chasing the ground and building the city 
hall. His aims have always been to attain 
to the best, and he has carried forward to 
successful completion whatever he has un- 
dertaken. He has made an untarnished 
record and an unspotted reputation as a 
business man. He and his wife are earnest 
and faithful members of the Methodist Epis- 
copal church, of which he is one of the 
trustees, and they are highly honored by 
those who know them. 



WILLIAM FORWARD is a representa- 
tive farmer of Prophetstown town- 
ship, owning and successfully operating a 
good farm of eighty acres on section 35. 
He is a native of New York, born in Cayuga 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



255 



county, September 5, 1834, and is a son of 
George and Sarah (Kager) Forward, who 
were born, reared and married in England, 
where they continued to mal<e their home 
until after the birth of two of their children. 
About 1830 they emigrated to America and 
took up their residence in Cayuga county, 
New York, where the)' resided for some 
years. Subsequently they made their home 
in Henry county, Illinois, for a few years, 
but spent their last days in Michigan. In 
their family were seven sons and three 
daughters, of whom one son is now de- 
ceased. Of those living, George resi les in 
Tampico, \\'hiteside county, Illinois; Frank 
and Delbert live near Lansing, Michigan; 
Lewis and Charles reside near Wichita, 
Kansas; and Edward near Wichita. 

William Forward passed his boyhood 
and jouth in his native county, but the 
greater part of his education has been 
acquired by reading and observation since 
arriving at mature years. In 1855 he left 
home and went to Berrien county, Michi- 
gan, where he accepted a position in a saw- 
mill, and was there employed as engineer 
for nine years. It was in the spring of 1867 
that he became a resident of this county, 
having the fall previously been here and 
purchased a farm. A part of the land had 
been broken and an old house stood thereon. 
To the further improvement and develop- 
ment of his place he at once turned his at- 
tention. He fenced the land, set out trees, 
erected neat and substantial buildings and 
placed the land under a high state of culti- 
vation. 

In Berrien county, Michigan, Mr. For- 
ward was n)arried March 29, 1863, to Miss 
Arabel Bnrnham, a native of Allegany 
county, Xew York, and a daughter of Guy 
C. Burnham. Being well educated, she 



successfully engaged in teaching school in 
Michigan prior to her marriage, and also 
taught one or two terms after coming to 
this county. She was an earnest and con- 
sistent member of the Free Methodist 
church, and died in that faith June 9, 1894, 
being laid to rest in Leon cemetery. To 
our subject and his wife were born six 
children: Edith, now the wife of Samuel 
Teach, of Lyndon, Ruby, a resident of 
Sterling, and formerly a teacher; Louisa, 
who also engaged in teaching and married 
H. L. Drain, but is now deceased; Joseph, 
who is now a young man; Walter, who as- 
sisted his father in carrying on the home 
farm; and May, who is now her father's 
housekeeper. 

Mr. Forward cast his first presidential 
vote for Abraham Lincoln in i860, and con- 
tinued to support the Republican party for 
some years, but of late years has been inde- 
pendent in poJitics, voting for the best men 
regardless of party lines. He has always 
been a stanch supporter of our public school 
system, and for many years was an efficient 
member of the school board. For the suc- 
cess that he has achieved in life he deserves 
great credit, for it is due entire to his own 
well directed efforts, perseverance and en- 
terprise. His well-spent and honorable life 
commends him to the confidence of all with 
whom he comes in contact and he has a 
host of warm friends in Whiteside county. 
His children are members of the Methodist 
Episcopal church. 



RALPH SMEDLEY, for many years one 
of the leading farmers of Portland 
township, is now living retired from 
active work at his pleasant home in Spring 
Hill, about a mile south of his valuable farm 



2s6 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



of two hundred and forty acres that he still 
owns. He was born in Oneida county, New 
York, October 8, 1845, a son of Moses 
Smedley, who was of English birth. 

Moses Smedley came to America, when 
a small boy, and grew to man's estate in 
Oneida county, New York, where for a 
number of years he followed the trade of a 
stone mason and plasterer. In 1846 he 
migrated to this part of Illinois, bringing 
\\ith him his family and household effects, 
and settled on a claim in Portland township. 
Here in opening up the land upon which he 
located he had his first experience as a 
tiller of the soil. He met with fair success 
in his labors, and in addition to general 
farming worked at his trade for many years, 
continuing a resident of the place until his 
death. While living in Oneida county he 
married Mary Ann, daughter of Peter Casler, 
one of the first settlers of the Mohawk val- 
ley, and of the children born of their 
union three survive, as follows: Sarah E., 
wife of Mr. Wing, of Marshall county, Min- 
nesota; Mary, wife of Franklin Warren, of 
the same county; and Ralph, the special sub- 
ject of this brief sketch. 

Ralph Smedley, who took kindly to 
agricultural pursuits, remained beneath the 
parental roof-tree throughout the days of his 
boyhood and youth, and assisted in the 
management of the farm until May S, 1864, 
when he enlisted as a private in Company 
B, One Hundred and Fortieth Illinois 
Volunteer Infantry, which was attached to 
the Army of the Tennessee. He partici- 
pated in several small engagements and 
skirmishes, and when the hundred days for 
which he had volunteered had expired he 
re-enlisted, and subsequently assisted in 
driving old "Pap Price" out of Missouri. 
Returning to Illinois he received his honor- 



able discharge at Chicago, with a fine record 
of active service, having lost scarce a day 
from sickness or other reasons. 

Resuming his work on the old home- 
stead, he remained with his parents until 
his marriage, when he assumed charge of 
the Blasdell farm which he carried on for 
six years. In 1874 he purchased eighty 
acres of the land now included in his large 
farm, and on this he labored with unceas- 
ing toil until he had it well under cultiva- 
tion. As time moved on he bought more 
land, increasing the size of his estate until 
it now contains two hundred and forty acres 
of choice land, finely located, and sub- 
stantially improved. He has erected two 
sets of farm buildings, including dwelling 
houses and barns, and these with their at- 
tractive surroundings invariably receive the 
attention of the passer-by, and give visible 
evidence of the thrift and superior manage- 
ment of the owner. In 1892 Mr. Smedley 
rented his farming property, and having 
built a good, comfortable house at Spring 
Hill moved into it with his family. Although 
living in town he is never idle, as he still 
devotes his time to looking after his farm 
interests, making repairs, and keeping the 
place in order, allowing nothing to de- 
teriorate from his high standard. As a skill- 
ful farmer he held a high position through- 
out the community in which he so long lived 
and was for years recognized as one of the 
most successful agriculturists and stock 
raisers of the county. 

On March 15, 1868, Mr. Smedley mar- 
ried Anulett Blasdell, who was born in 
Portland township, a daughter of Mason 
W. Blasdell, an early pioneer of \Miiteside 
county. Mr. Blasdell was born in Virgil, 
Cortland county, New York, in 1820, and 
came to this county when a young man. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



!57 



Here he married Alzina Row, who was born 
in Cameron, Steuben county, New York, in 
1823, a daughter of James Row, who set- 
tled in this section of Illinois in 1836. Mr. 
and Mrs. Smedley have one child, Lera, 
who married Henry Sohrbeck, a farmer in 
this township, and has four children, name- 
ly: Ella Melba, Hazel, Perry and Ray- 
mond. On all national issues Mr. Smedley 
supports the Democratic platform, but in 
local politics he casts his ballot for the best 
men and measures regardless of party lines. 
He is liberal minded, deeply interested in 
the welfare of town and county, and has 
rendered e.xcellent service to the public 
as constable for three years, as commis- 
sioner, as township treasurer nine years, 
and as township trustee si.x consecutive 
years. During the past half century Mr. 
Smedley has seen woodland and swamp 
transformed into broad and cultivated 
fields, the log cabins of the pioneers re- 
placed by frame houses, and the hamlets 
develop into thriving villages and towns. 
Although not one of the original settlers of 
the place, he has done much towards this 
wonderful change in the landscape, and 
has ever given his hearty support to all 
plans conducive to the advancement of the 
community in which he resides. 



JUDGE AARON A. WOLFERSPER- 
GER, M. S., LL. D., of Sterling, Illi- 
nois, has attained distinction as one of the 
ablest members of the Whiteside county 
bar. In this profession probably more than 
any other success depends upon individual 
merit, upon a thorough understanding of 
the principles of jurisprudence, a power of 
keen analysis, and the ability to present 
clearly, concisely and forcibly the strong 



points in his cause. Possessing these nec- 
essary qualifications, Judge Wolfersperger 
is accorded a foremost place in the ranks of 
the profession in Whiteside county, and 
stands to-day as one of the most esteemed 
members of its bar. 

A native of Whiteside county, he was 
born in Jordan township, five miles north 
of Sterling, March 22, 1856, and is a son 
of John and Lydia (Capp) Wolfersperger. 
His paternal great-great-grandfather came 
to this country from Switzerland and loca- 
ted in Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, 
where he spent the remainder of his life as 
an agriculturist. The grandfather, John 
Wolfersperger, was an extensive farmer of 
Pennsylvania and spent his active business 
life in that state, but his declining years were 
passed at the home of his only child, the fa- 
ther of our subject, in this county. Prior 
to coming to Illinois, John Wolfersperger, 
Jr., had married Miss Lydia Capp, also a 
native of Pennsylvania and a daughter of 
Jacob Capp, who was of English and Ger- 
man descent. On his arrival here Mr. 
Wolfersperger entered a tract of govern- 
ment land in Jordan township, and was ex- 
tensively engaged in general farming and 
stock raising there, owning over a section 
of land and operating two sections. He 
was one of the most substantial farmers of 
his time in this county and was one of the 
first stockholders of the Sterling National 
Bank. In 1883, he retired from farming 
and moved to Sterling, where he died in 
November, 1897. His wife passed away in 
August, 1895. They were consistent mem- 
bers of the Lutheran church, and in poli- 
tics he was a Democrat. 

During his boyhood and youth Judge 
Wolfersperger acquired physical strength by 
hard labor upon the home farm and obtained 



258 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



a f^ood literary education in the public 
schools and Carthage College, where he was 
granted the degree of B. S. He then at- 
tended the Union College of Law, Chicago 
(now a part of the Northwestern University), 
from which he was graduated in 1879, with 
the degree of LL. B , and took his Master's 
degree in the course. On his admission to 
the bar he began practice alone in Sterling 
as a young attorney, but from the first he 
met with unusually good success. He was 
able to speak German and as at that time 
one-half the population of the town used 
that language, he naturally received their 
patronage. In 1884 he was elected city 
attorney, was re-elected and held that posi- 
tion continuously until the fall of 1890, when 
he was elected county judge and resigned 
the former office. Although he was the 
Democratic nominee for judge in a county 
where the Republican party usually had a 
majority of sixteen or eighteen hundred, he 
was elected by over fifteen hundred major- 
ity, thus showing his popularity and the con- 
fidence and trust reposed in him by his fel- 
low citizens. He most creditably filled the 
office for four years, and has since devoted 
his time to a large private practice. He is 
a director of the Sterling National Bank and 
attorney of the same since its organization. 
He is also attorney for the Sterling Water 
Company, and local attorney for the Chica- 
go, Burlington &Quincy Railroad. He has 
met with success financially as well as 
professionally, and now owns considerable 
real estate, both city and farm property. 
On the 4th of November, 1880, Judge 
Wolfersperger was united in marriage with 
Miss Anna Hendricks, of Sterling, a daugh- 
ter of Jacob Hendricks, and to them have 
been born two children: Lelia S. and John 
W. The family have a pleasant home at 



No. 602 First avenue, and they attend and 
support the Presbyterian church, of which 
Mrs. Wolfersperger is a member. Socially 
the Judge is a Knight Templar Mason, a 
member of the blue lodge, chapter and com- 
mandrey of Sterling, and also belongs to the 
Odd Fellows lodge. No. 174. While a 
Democrat in politics he is in favor of sound 
money. Genial and affable, possessed of 
a logical mind and of rare persuasive powers, 
he is enabled to appear well before a jury 
and to exert over it a wonderful influence. 
As a citizen he has at all times the good of 
the community at heart and all his abilities 
are e.xerted to make the city and county of 
his adoption rank among the best of their 
size in this great commonwealth. 



RICHARD SMITH. Wherever there is 
pioneer work to be done, men of 
energy and ability are required, and success 
or failure depends upon the degree of those 
qualities that is possessed. In wresting the 
land of Whiteside county from its native 
wilderness; in fitting it for the habitation of 
men; in developing the natural resources of 
the community in which they live, few if 
any have contributed more than Richard 
Smith, and it is meet and proper that for 
the arduous and important labor he has per- 
formed he should receive due reward. He 
has made his home in the county since 
1838, and now owns and operates a good 
farm on section 10, Tampico township, just 
north of the corporate limits of Tampico. 

Mr. Smith was born in the town of Cor- 
inth, Orange county, Vermont, December 
27, 1834, a son of Robert and Christiana V' 
(Lee) Smith, also natives of that state. In 
1837 the father came to Whiteside county, 
Illinois, and was one of the first to locate 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



259 



on Coon creek, near Prophetstown, taking 
up a claim at Jefferson Corners. In 1838 
he was joined by his family, but the follow- 
ing winter he met death by freezing while 
returning to his home from Dixon, having 
been there to mill. He named Washington 
street below Prophetstown. Later his widow 
married Samuel Johnson, who located on 
the Smith claim. The neighbors had erect- 
ed for her a good log house upon the place 
(her husband having hauled the logs previ- 
ous to his death), and she had commenced 
to improve and cultivate the land. Of her 
three children, Rinaldo died in the winter 
of 1838, but the others are still living. Lucy 
is the wife of Herbert Houston, a machinist 
of Pennsylvania. Richard completes the 
family. 

Our subject grew to manhood in Proph- 
etstown township, where he attended school, 
and later was a student at Lee Center for 
nearly a year. He remained with his mother 
until reaching manhood. In September, 
1 86 1, he joined the boys in blue of Com- 
pany B, Thirty-fourth Illinois Volunteer In- 
fantry, and with the Army of the Cumber- 
land participated in the battles of Pittsburg 
Landing, Shiloh, Perryville, Stone River, 
Chattanooga, Chickamauga, Missionary 
Ridge and Lookout Mountain. He was in 
the raid on Knoxville, the charge on Buz- 
zard Roost, the battles of Resaca and Iven- 
esaw Mountain, and with his regiment was 
in the front ranks during the engagements 
of the Atlanta campaign. In the charge on 
Kenesaw Mountain, he was wounded in the 
hand. On the expiration of his three years' 
term of enlistment, he was honorably dis- 
charged at Atlanta, in September, 1864, 
and returned to his home to resume the 
more quiet pursuits of farm life. 

At Sterling, in December, 1865, Mr. 



Smith was united in marriage with Miss 
Lizzie Horrie, who was born in New York, 
but came to this county when a child. To 
them have been born four children, namely: 
Clara, wife of Thomas Wicken, a farmer of 
Tampico township; Alfreter, at home; Rose, 
wife of Burton Brown, a farmer of Tampico 
township; and Mary, wife of Shular Sted- 
man, who operates a farm adjoining our sub- 
ject's place. They also have an adopted 
son, Frank Smith, whom they have reared 
from childhood. 

After his marriage, Mr. Smith operated 
a rented farm for one season, and then en- 
gaged in teaming for a short time in Peru 
and La Salle. Subsequently he located on 
the land which his step-father had secured 
from the government for him, it being an 
eighty-acre tract on section 9, Tampico 
township, to which he has since added forty 
acres, and he has transformed the place into 
a well-improved and highly cultivated farm. 
In 1882 he rented it and moved to South 
Dakota, where he took up a homestead of 
one hundred and sixty acres, built a good 
house thereon, and carried on farming 
there through three seasons. Renting that 
place in 1885, he returned to his old home 
in Whiteside county, and engaged in farm- 
ing there for about ten years. In 1894 he 
bought his present farm, to which he re- 
moved the following spring, having sold the 
old homestead. He has made many sub- 
stantial improvements upon his place, in- 
cluding the erection of a large barn, and has 
met with excellent success in its operation. 

On attaining his majority, Mr. Smith 
became identified with the Whig party and 
voted for P'ilmore, in 1856, but since then 
he has affiliated with the Republican party. 
While in South Dakota he served as high- 
way commissioner, and has filled the office 



26o 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



of school director, but has never cared for 
pohtical preferment. He and his wife and 
daughter are members of the Tampico 
Baptist church, and he belongs to the Grand 
Army post and his wife to the Relief Corps. 
For sixty-five years he has made his home 
in this country and has witnessed its won- 
derful development; he has seen the deer 
and other wild game disappear, " and the 
swamps and wild prairie land transformed 
into fine farms; and in the work of progress 
and upbuilding he has borne an important 
part. As a veteran of the Civil war, and an 
honored pioneer, and a representative man 
of his community, he is worthy the high re- 
gard in which he is held and deserves promi- 
nent mention in his county's history. 



GARRETT NANIGA, of Fulton, White- 
side county, is carrying on an extensive 
business in the sale of agricultural imple- 
ments, wagons, carriages and vehicles of all 
kinds, and is also successfully managing the 
hardware business of the C. N. Wheeler 
estate. A young man of superior executive 
ability and of sound judgment, he already 
occupies a good position in the mercantile 
world, and has a fine prospect of reaching 
the topmost round of the ladder of pros- 
perity. He was born in Fulton township 
February i8, 1862, a son of George and 
Dora (Feldt) Naniga, both of whom were 
born and reared in H(.>lland, but were mar- 
ried after coming to America. 

In company with a number of others 
they came to America on the same ship, and 
first took up their abode in Holland, Michi- 
gan, where they were married, and from 
whence four years later they came to \\'hite- 
side county, Illinois. He purchased one 
hundred and sixty acres of land, lying two 



and one-half miles from Fulton, and was 
there engaged in tilling the soil until his 
death, April 4, 1875. He was an indus- 
trious, intelligent man, interested in the wel- 
fare of his adopted town and county, and 
proved himself a most worthy citizen. He 
was a decided Republican in politics, and 
served on the board of education for a num- 
ber of terms. In religion he was a member 
of the Reformed church. His widow still 
lives in Fulton, an active woman of sev- 
enty-two years. They reared four children, 
namely: Garrett, the special subject of this 
sketch; John, in the employ of J. W. Broad- 
head; Elizabeth, wife of John C. Jones, of 
Clinton, Iowa, and Dennis, a farmer at Gar- 
den Plain, this county. 

Garrett Naniga was educated in the pub- 
lic schools, and remained on the parental 
homestead until nineteen years of age, when 
he started in the world for himself. Going 
to Nebraska he bought eighty acres of land 
in Holland, a small town about twenty miles 
from Lincoln, but after a two years' resi- 
dence there returned home satisfied with his 
experience there. The next year he was 
employed by the 'bus line of D. C. Goble, 
in Fulton, and was afterward a clerk and 
salesman with George De Bey & Co., gen- 
eral merchants, for four years. In 1886, 
deciding to again try the pursuit of agri- 
culture, he took charge of the home place, 
but in 1887 accepted a position as clerk and 
salesman in the hardware establishment of 
the late C. N. \\'heeler, and on the 
death of his employer in July, 1898, as- 
sumed the entire control of the business, 
managing it for the estate. In 1899 he es- 
tablished a new line of business, in which 
he is dealing in agricultural implements of 
all descriptions, wagons and vehicles of 
every kind, and a full stock of farmers' sup- 



XHE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



261 



plies, including seeds, etc. In all of his 
undertakings he has prospered thus far, his 
excellent success being but the logical result 
of his careful and correct business methods. 
Mr. Naniga has been active in the improve- 
ment and upbuilding of his town, having 
bought and remodeled three residences, and 
erected three new, handsome houses. 

Politically he has ever been an earnest 
Republican, and has rendered good service 
to his townsmen in official capacities, hav- 
ing been township collector since 1897, and 
is now alderman from the third ward, hav- 
ing been elected in the spring of nSgg. Fra- 
ternally he is a member of the Modern 
Woodmen of America, of the Mystic Work- 
ers of the World, and of the Abou Ben 
Adhem lodge, No. 148, I. O. O. F., of 
Fulton. He is likewise connected with the 
Woodmen Accident Insurance Company. 

On October 15, 18S4, at Ustick town- 
ship, Mr. Naniga was married to Miss Helen 
Sikkeman, daughter of Jacob and Anna (Volk) 
Sikkeman, respected members of the farm- 
ing community of Ustick. Their union has 
been blessed by the birth of three children, 
namely: DoraM., Jacob G. and Florence G. 



WILLIAM LANE. The fine farm be- 
longing to this gentleman on section 
26, Prophetstown township, invariably 
attracts the eye of the passing traveler as 
being under the supervision of a thorough 
and skillful agriculturist, and a man other- 
wise of good business qualifications. Be- 
sides this place, comprising one hundred 
and sixty acres, he owns another good farm 
of one hundred and forty acres. 

Mr. Lane was born near Niles, in 
Berrien county, Michigan, June 18, 1837, a 

15 



son of Benjamin and Charity (Roper) Lane, 
natives of Cayuga county, New York, and 
pioneers of Berrien county, Michigan, where 
the father took up a tract of government 
land and cleared and improved a farm. 
There his first wife died, and he later mar- 
ried a Mrs. Robinson. In 1855 he came to 
Illinois and settled in Henry county. He 
again turned his attention to developing wild 
land into a well-cultivated and productive 
farm, his place being on the boundary line 
between Henry and Bureau counties, near 
Whiteside county. Here he spent the last 
years of his life, but died at the home of our 
subject, in October, 1889, at the age of 
eighty-two. His last wife had died about 
eight years before. Our subject is the 
second in order of birth in a family of five 
children, three sons and two daughters, of 
whom George now lives in California, and 
Mrs. Sarah A. Wincheil lives in Prophets- 
town township. These are the only surviv- 
ors. 

William Lane was about nineteen years 
of age when he came with his father to this 
state, and he assisted in opening up and 
improving the home farm. He received a 
good common-school education in his native 
state. During the dark days of the Re- 
bellion, he manifested his patriotism by en- 
listing, May 21, 1862, for three years, in 
Company K, Fifty-seventh Illinois Volunteer 
Infantry, and was in the service until 
hostilities ceased, being honorably dis- 
charged May 20, 1865. He participated in 
numerous important engagements and skir- 
mishes, including the battles of Corinth, 
Town Creek and Resaca, Georgia. He took 
in the Atlanta campaign, was with Sherman 
on his famous march to the sea, and his last 
engagement was at Bentonville, North Caro- 
lina. At Corinth he received a gunshot 



262 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



wound, but was not disabled, and never lost 
any time on account of sickness and never 
missed stacking guns with his regiment. On 
his return home from the war Mr. Lane re- 
sumed farming. His first purchase con- 
sisted 'of eighty acres of wild land obtained 
from his father, and to it he has added from 
time to time, as his financial resources per- 
mitted, until he now has three hundred 
acres of as good farming land as is to be 
found in the county. In connection with 
general farming he is interested in raising 
and feeding stock, his specialty being cattle 
and hogs, and in both branches of his busi- 
ness he has been eminently successful. 

In the village of Prophetstown Mr. Lane 
was married, October i8, 1868, to Miss 
Elizabeth Wroe, who was born in Virginia, 
but was reared in Illinois. Her father, Ben- 
jamin Wroe, was one of the early settlers 
of Bureau county, but later removed to Mis- 
souri, where his death occurred. To Mr. 
and Mrs. Lane have been born six children, 
two sons and four daughters, all of whom 
have been well educated and reside at home. 
Ida E., William Clark and Charles Francis 
all attended the Genesee high school, and 
the two older hold first-class certificates for 
teaching, while Charles F. and William C. 
assists in the operation of the farm. Mary 
A. also holds a teacher's certificate, and 
Grace and Nellie are students in the home 
school. Mrs. Lane and children are at- 
tendants of the Methodist Episcopal church, 
and the younger members of the family are 
active workers in the Sunday school. Fra- 
ternally, Mr. Lane is a member of the 
Grand Army post of Tampico, and, polit- 
ically, he is a stanch Republican, having 
affiliated with that party since casting his 
first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln, 
in i860. He is widely and favorably known 



and, being a man of many sterling qualities, 
the community is fortunate that numbers 



him among its citizens. 



CLARENCE E. WHITE, a well-known 
wagon and carriage manufacturer, of 
Sterling, Illinois, is entitled to distinction 
as one of the most progressive, enterprising 
and public-spirited citizens of the place. 
Upon the commercial activity of a commun- 
ity depends its prosperity, and the men who 
are now recognized as leading citizens are 
those that are at the head of important 
business enterprises. He is a man of broad 
capabilities, who generally carries forward 
to successful completion whatever he un- 
dertakes. 

Mr. White was born in Winchendon, 
Worcester count}% Massachusetts, October 
3, 1853, a son of Daniel and Maria (Poland) 
White, natives of Vermont. The founder 
of the White family in America came to this 
country on the Mayflower. The paternal 
grandfather was a soldier of the war of 
1812, and the father received a part of the 
pension due him from the government. 
The latter attended the common schools of 
his native state, and in early life was bound 
out to a carriage and vehicle builder, learn- 
ing the trade thoroughly. After his mar- 
riage he moved to Winchendon, Massa- 
chusetts, where he followed his trade for 
many years, running a large establishment. 
While there he was a member of the Mas- 
sachusetts State Guards, and also served as 
selectman of Winchendon. In 1866, with 
his wife and two children, he came to Illi- 
nois and took up his residence in Sterling, 
where he established a wagon and carriage 
manufactory, but after conducting it for 
two years, he bought a section of land in 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



263 



Lee county, Illinois, and followed farming 
for two years. He then returned to Sterl- 
ing and resumed work at his trade, being 
engaged in business here up to the time of 
his death, which occurred June 3, 1876. 
His wife died in May, 1892. Both were 
consistent members of the Methodist 
church, and he was a Republican in poli- 
tics. 

In the family of this worthy couple 
were four children: Elsie E. is now the 
wife of George P. Ross, a leading farmer of 
Harmon township, Lee county, and they 
have two children living. Hiram L. mar- 
ried Esther O. Barber, and died in Sum- 
merville, Massachusetts, January 15, 1899, 
at the age of fifty-six years, leaving two 
children. Clarence E. is the next in order 
of birth. Flora is the wife of W. F. Man- 
gan, of Sterling, and they have five chil- 
dren. 

Clarence E. White began his education 
in the public schools of his native state, and 
after coming to Sterling attended both the 
public and select schools of this place. At 
the age of eighteen years he entered his fa- 
ther's shop, where he soon mastered the 
trade, and remained with his father until 
the latter's death, being a partner from the 
age of twenty-one. At his father's death he 
assumed full control of the business, which 
he has since successfully carried on, em- 
plo3'ing wood workers, painters and black- 
smiths. He now gives considerable atten- 
tion to the real estate business, and owns 
eight dwelling houses, a meat market and 
grocery store in the city, besides two well 
cultivated farms of one hundred and sixty 
acres each in Comanche county, I'Cansas. 

On the 4th of May, 1876, Mr. White 
was united in marriage with Miss Anna S. 
Abendroth, a native of Berlin, German}', 



who when a small child came to this country 
with her father, John Abendroth, locating 
in Green county, Wisconsin, where he pur- 
chased land and engaged in farming for a 
couple of years. Since then he has been 
successfully engaged in the boot and shoe 
business in Janesville, that state, and also 
has money out on interest. Prior to com- 
ing to America he served for several years 
in the German army. In his family were 
four children, of whom Mary died at the 
age of six years. Those living are Edward, 
August and Mrs. White. Edward is now 
chief of police of Monroe, Wisconsin; and 
August is in charge of a division for the 
Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad. To Mr. 
and Mrs. White were born three children, 
namely: Uatus E., who died of typhoid 
fever at the age of eleven years; Lottie S., 
who will graduate from the Sterling high 
school in 1900, and Elsie M., who is attend- 
ing the grammar school of Sterling. 

Fraternally, Mr. White is a charter 
member of Sterling garrison. No. 8^, 
Knights of the Globe, and his wife was one 
of the first members of the Methodist church 
of that city, and a charter member of the 
Betsey Ross garrison, Eminent Ladies 
Knights of the Globe. In his political 
affiliations he is a stanch Republican, and 
in 1890 he was elected alderman from the 
first ward, in which capacity he served for 
six years. He was instrumental in getting 
a great many important measures passed, 
among the most important being the paving 
of the streets and the laying of the Broad- 
way sewer. He was chairman of the print- 
ing, bridges, electric light, fire and water 
committees, and was a member of the street 
and alley committee during the entire time 
he held the office. At four different times 
when the mayor was out of the city, he 



264 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



served as mayor pro tcm. He is pre-emi- 
nently public-spirited and progressive and is 
always willing to give his support to every 
enterprise which he believes will prove of 
public good. During the time he was serv- 
ing as mayor pro ton. all arc lights in the 
city were put in through his own personal 
efforts and the free bridge lighted by incan- 
descents. 



PROF. J. E. BITTINGER. In this age 
of intellectual activity, when success 
in the business world depends not upon 
mere physical prowess but upon mental 
activity, upon an ability to master the 
principles and details of any enterprise and 
guide its course away from the rocks of dis- 
aster to the safe harbor of success, the work 
of the educator has become of even greater 
importance than ever before, and one of 
his most important functions is in connec- 
tion with the department in which the 
young are trained for the practical duties of 
the commercial and industrial world. Long 
occupying a prominent rank among the 
educators of Illinois is Professor J. E. Bit- 
tinger, the well known president of the 
Northern Illinois College, at Fulton, and 
under his leadership this school has taken 
rank with the best of its kind in the Missis- 
sippi valley. With a correct appreciation 
of the responsiblity that devolves upon the 
teacher he has ably prepared himself for his 
profession and is making continual advance- 
ment along lines of educational progress, 
each year witnessing an improvement in his 
methods of instruction. 

Professor Bittinger was born in Hagers- 
town, Maryland, August i, 1857, a son of 
George and Elizabeth (Melchoir) Bittinger, 
who were natives of Pennsylvania. The 



family is of German lineage, Jacob Bittinger 
a native of the Fatherland, having been the 
first of the name to seek a home in the New 
World. Throughout his active business 
career the father of our subject followed 
farming. He carried on agricultural pur- 
suits in Washington county, Mar3'!and, for 
six years, and then emigrated to Illinois. 
After residing in Ogle county, this state, for 
eight years he went to Poweshiek county, 
Iowa, and is now a resident of Nassau. 
Professor Bittinger is third in the family of 
seven children born to George and Eliza- 
beth Bittinger. The others are Emma, 
wife of Jeremiah Raymond, of Dixon, Illi- 
nois; George W., of Polo; William G., of 
Nassau, Iowa; Elizabeth, wife of Lincoln 
Eyier, of Nassau, Iowa; Mary, wife of 
Harry Roland, of Davenport, Nebraska; 
and Frank E., of Mystic, Iowa. 

Professor Bittinger, of this review, was 
only seven years of age when he came with 
hjs parents to Illinois. He spent the days 
of his childhood and youth upon his father's 
farm, and assisted in the labors of field and 
meadow until seventeen years of age, when 
desiring to gain a better education than had 
hitherto been provided htm, he bacame a stu- 
dent in the high school of Lewis, Iowa, where 
he remained two years. At the age of nine- 
teen he secured a position as teacher in a 
graded school in Ogle county, Illinois, and 
in 1880 he entered the Northern Illinois 
College at Fulton, graduating from the 
philosophical department at the end of 
four years. For the following six years 
he was employed by his alma inatcr as a 
teacher of natural sciences, on the expira- 
tion of which period he became principal of 
the schools of Port Byron, Illinois, where 
he remained three years. He then came to 
Fulton where for five years he acted as 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



265 



principle of the public schools, after which 
he was made president of the Northern Illi- 
nois College, in which capacity he has now 
acceptably served for three years. Under 
his direction the school is making rapid and 
satisfactory progress, substantial improve- 
ment is noticed in all departments of the 
work, and the Fulton Business College, 
which is conducted in connection with the 
Northern Illinois College, is unsurpassed in 
its methods and efficiency by any school of 
the kind in the country. In it are taught all 
the branches of learning of use in the com- 
mercial world and general actual business 
practice fits the student for the practical 
duties of the business world. The Inter- 
Communication practice is used, whereby 
the students transact business with other 
students in twenty-five colleges throughout 
the Union, doing an actual business, save 
for the interchange of goods. The Northern 
Illinois College is a credit to Fulton, and 
ranks high in educational circles throughout 
the state. 

Professor Bittinger has ever been an 
advocate of progress and reform and is thus 
identified with many movements whose 
purpose is to do away with old methods and 
substitute new and better ones. His inter- 
est in the welfare of his fellow men has led 
him to give his political support to the Pro- 
hibition party, and on that ticket he was 
candidate for county clerk in 1S88, but has 
never been a politician in the sense of office 
seeking. Fraternally he is connected with 
the Modern Woodmen of America and the 
Court of Honor. He holds membership in 
the Baptist church of Fulton, is a member 
and clerk of its board of trustees, and does 
all in his power to promote the work and 
interests of the church. His home relations 
are very pleasant. In November, 1887, he 



married Carrie A. Mason, a daughter of 
Alonzo P. and Carrie (Northnp) Mason, a 
native of New York, in which state her par- 
ents were also born. Professor and Mrs. 
Bittinger now have two children, Lylle M. 
and Leigh N., both yet in school. The 
parents enjoy the hospitality of the best 
homes of the city and their friends are num- 
bered among the representative people of 
Fulton. Throughout his life Professor Bit- 
tinger has been actuated by noble, yet 
practical, principles, and the spirit of help- 
fulness which pervades in the school of 
which he is president is undoubtedly one of 
the secrets of its success. 



NORTHERN ILLINOIS COLLEGE. 
This is one of the leading features of 
Fulton. It was first established by Colonel 
De Estynge Cavert, in 1 861, as a military 
school, and was called the Western Union 
College and Military Academy. Colonel 
Cavert proposed to open this institution if the 
citizens would take hold and aid him, which 
they did, forming a company and issuing 
bonds. He secured the Dement House, 
which had been vacant for some years, re- 
fitted the building and extended the grounds 
so as to have ample room for drill. The war 
had commenced and military enthusiasm 
ran high. He received from the United 
States government arms and accoutrements 
for the use of a cadet corps. It was carried 
on in this way for about four years, receiv- 
ing large numbers of students and sending 
out many well-drilled cadets to the field. 
Colonel Cavert desired then to retire from 
the college, and have the company take it 
off of his hands and rent it as a college. 
Accordingly they took it from him and or- 
ganized a college under the general laws of 



266 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



the state, securing a special charter. Dona- 
tions were asked for and received from all 
parts of the state and quite a large fund was 
raised. One of the objects was to take the 
disabled soldiers from Illinois regiments and 
educate them to fill civil stations. The same 
advantages were e.xtended to the children of 
soldiers. The trustees managed the insti- 
tution with a faculty of whom Leander H. 
Potter was president. The e.xpenses were 
defrayed from the donation fund. The in- 
stitution received from the state during this 
period about $20,000. Mr. Potter's admin- 
istration closing about this time, the trus- 
tees then secured Mr. W. D. F. Lummis, 
who, with other professors, took charge of 
the institution. About this period the trus- 
tees ceased soliciting aid from the state, and 
then the question of changing the name of 
the college was discussed, when it was fully 
agreed by the stockholders and trustees to 
adopt a new name, calling the institution 
the Northern Illinois College. To Mr. 
Lummis the trustees gave the interest of 
the endowment fund, which was then about 
$30,000, charging him nothing for the use 
of the building. Mr. Lummis did not suc- 
ceed in satisfying the expectations and de- 
sires of the trustees, and on accepting his 
resignation they leased the college to Rev. 
J. W. Hubbard, whose administration, 
although not extraordinary, was encourag- 
ing. Subsequently Professor A. A. Griffith 
took charge of the institution and endeav- 
ored to establish a school of oratory, but 
not meeting with the success desired he 
concluded to change the charactor of the 
school, and in consequence of which he 
called Professors A. M. Hansen and \V. F. 
Hansen, who began to put forth strong 
efforts to establish a normal, scientific, and 
classical school. They were very popular 



and pleased the board. Finally Mr. Griffith 
resigned and Professor A. M. Hansen 
was elected its president. He began to 
re-organize the institution, making many 
changes in the character of the work and 
general improvements. President Hansen 
had erected on the grounds north of the 
college a large, brick, three-story building 
to be known as the Ladies' Seminary. This 
was for the accommodation of his family and 
the female students, and a dining hall. 

After eleven years of successful man- 
agement of the college, during which time 
over 2,000 students were enrolled. Presi- 
dent Hansen decided to change his line 
of work, and began the manufacture of 
sheet-steel siding. Prof. W. A. Pratt was 
next elected to the presidency of the insti- 
tution, but, after two years of experience, 
he decided to change and take up public 
school work again, when he was succeeded 
by Mr. A. A. Riopel, who was not success- 
ful in bringing the school up to a high 
standard, and he was consequently succeed- 
ed by J. H. Breese, who, after two years of 
connection, resigned and Mr. R. A. Morley 
was chosen in his place. The institution 
now seemed to take on new life, but a fire 
destroyed the main building and under the 
discouraging circumstances Mr. Morley re- 
signed and Mr. J. E. Bittinger succeeded 
him, January i, 1897. The trustees then 
took hold of the work of reconstructing the 
main building, and, after securing the 
amount of insurance allowed, the building 
was remodeled throughout, making a very 
handy and satisfactory arrangement for 
school purposes. 

The school has had a steady growth 
since the election of President Bittinger, and 
about six hundred dollars worth of books, 
philosophical and chemical apparatus have 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



267 



been added. A strong faculty has been added, 
and excellent work is being done in every 
department. The faculty is as follows: 
J. E. Bittinger, A. M., president; Dyson 
Rishell, LL. D., law; S. A. Maxwell, 
I^itt. Pi., normal work; Miss Amorett Al- 
ford, ancient languages; O. W. Win- 
ter, normal work; A. T. Scovill, com- 
mercial work; Miss Anna Miller, assistant 
commercial work; H. W. \'oss, German; 
Miss Clara Wheeler, music; Adolf Wiese, 
violin and mandolin music; C. C. McMahon, 
law. The board of trustees: A. M. Han- 
sen, president; W. D. Ward, secretary; W. 
F. Hansen, treasurer; W. A. Pratt, H. 
Pease, D. B. Snyder, Mrs. A. M. Hansen, 
Geo. DeBey, J. E. Bittinger, L. Barber, 
Geo. Storey, M. L. Perry, 

The trustees keep up the expenses of the 
institution, such as repairs, insurance, etc., 
and give the use of the building. This is 
done from the interest on the donation fund. 
President Hansen has become quite popular, 
and he has largely increased the patronage. 
A business education can be had at this 
institution that cannot be secured at a 
graded school or any other college. The 
student can get his business education and 
go out, or can go through with a regular 
classical course. This is one of the best 
educational institutions in the state, and 
probably nowhere in the state can a thorough 
education be procured at so little expense. 
For health and beauty of location it is unex- 
celled. The faculty take every pains with 
their pupils, and the president looks after 
them with the care of a parent. The par- 
ents who send their children here can rest 
assured that they will be under the best of 
influences. The college buildings are heated 
with steam, and the rooms are large and 
well ventilated. The apartments appropri- 



ated to the young ladies are really elegant. 
The college has all the instruments, chemi- 
cals and chemical apparatus, geological 
cabinets and charts necessary for the use of 
the student. One of the attractive features 
of this institution is that it is free from sec- 
tarian influences, though its government is 
upon a true Christian basis. 



JAY CLEAVELAND. Prominent among 
the successful and enterprising farmers 
of Hume township is the subject of this bio- 
graphical notice, whose home is situated on 
section 29, and who is considered one of the 
most industrious and worthy citizens of that 
part of the county. He was born in Lewis 
county. New York, March 25, 1844, ^ son 
of David Cleaveland, also a native of New 
York. The grandfather, Josiah Cleaveland, 
was also born in Connecticut, and was a 
soldier of the Revolutionary war under Gen- 
eral Washington, remaining in the service 
seven years, nine months and twelve days. 
The pocket knife which he then carried is 
now in possession of our subject, while his 
bullet pouch and flint box belongs to our 
subject's brother. For his service he re- 
ceived a lane warrant, with which the father 
of our subject secured a tract of land 
in Whiteside county, now belonging 
to Nelon Cleaveland. In Oneida county. 
New York, David Cleaveland married Miss 
Ama Hawkins, and later moved to Lewis 
county, that state. In 1849 he came to 
this county, and the following year brought 
his two sons, who commenced to break and 
improve the land which he had entered. In 
1852 the family located upon the place, and 
here the father continued to make his home 
throughout life. He was well known and 
highly respected, and by his friends he was 



268 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



familiarly known as Uncle Dave. He died 
in the winter of 1879, and his wife passed 
away the following summer, both being laid 
to rest in Prophetstown cemetery. 

The subject of this sketch was only 
seven years old when he came to this 
county, and upon the home farm in Hume 
township he grew to manhood, aiding his 
father in the cultivation of the farm and 
attended the public schools of the locality 
during the winter months. In Morrison, 
March 24, 1865, he was united in marriage 
with Miss Fanny Dennison, who was 
born in Massachusetts and when a child 
came to this county with her father, who 
died a few days after their arrival here. 
Mr. and Mrs. Cleaveland have one child. 
Earl J., who now holds a position in Bald- 
win's store of Prophetstown. 

For four years after his marriage, Mr. 
Cleaveland continued to reside on the old 
Cleaveland homestead and carried on a part 
of the place. He then bought one hundred 
and si.xty acres of raw land where he now 
resides, which, by draining and placing un- 
der a high state of cultivation, he has con- 
verted into one of the most desirable farms 
of its size in the township. In 1893 he built 
a good barn, the following year erected sub- 
stantial outbuildings, and in 1898 built a 
large and pleasant residence in modern style 
of architecture. Besides his home farm, he 
also owns and operates eighty acres of land 
elsewhere in Hume township. 

On attaining his majority, Mr. Cleave- 
land became identified with the Democratic 
party, but in 1878 he supported General 
Grant for the presidency and has since affil- 
iated with the Republican party. He 
served as road and ditch commissioner for 
five years, but has never been an aspirant 
for political honors, prefeiring to devote his 



entire time and attention to his business in- 
terests. His wife is a member of the Con- 
gregational church of Prophetstown, and al- 
though he is not a member, he attends serv- 
ices with her and contributes to the support 
of the church. He was made a Master Ma- 
son in Prophetstown lodge, and is also a 
member of the Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows. He is a public-spirited and enter- 
prising citizen who takes a deep interest in 
everything pertaining to public develop- 
ment. 



AM. HANSEN, A. M., Ph. D., LL. D. 
The pioneers ot a country, the found- 
ers of a business, the originators of any un- 
dertaking that will promote the material 
welfare or advance the ediicational, social 
and moral influence of a community, de- 
serve the gratitude of humanity. In our 
subject, who is now president and treasurer 
of the Steel Brick Siding Company, of Ful- 
ton, Illinois, we find a prominent representa- 
tive of the industrial interests of the state. 
He is not only at the head of this gigantic 
enterprise but is also the originator and 
patentee of the steel brick siding, now so 
widely known and generally used through- 
out the entire country. 

Dr. Hansen was born in Gibisonville, 
Ohio, March 17, 1850, a son ol Samuel C. 
and Elizabeth (Kinser) Hansen, the former 
a native of England, the latter of Ohio. 
The primary education of our subject was 
received in the common schools of his native 
state, and later he attended the Ohio 
Wesleyan University, at Delaware. Ohio. 
Subsequently he took a regular course in the 
National Normal University at Lebanon, 
that state, graduating with the class of 1875. 




A. M. HANSEN. 




MRS. HANSEN. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



273 



He at once engaged in educational work as a 
teacher in Hocking county, Ohio, where he 
taught school for one year, and the follow- 
ing year he pursued his profession in Linn 
county, Missouri. Later he filled the posi- 
tion of president of the Tayiorville Business 
College and superintendent of the city 
schools of Tayiorville, Illinois, for one year, 
^ and was then chosen president of the Rock 
River University at Dixon, which position 
he filled until the spring of 1879, when he 
resigned to accept the chair of natural 
sciences and director of study in the 
Nothern Illinois College, at Fulton. The 
president being absent most of the time the 
care of conducting the college devolved 
upon him from the start. In June of the 
succeeding year, 1880, he was elected presi- 
dent of the college for a term of eight years. 
In contemplation of extensive building im- 
provements and in recognition of his able 
management, the board of trustees, in 1884, 
re-elected him for a term of ten years, in 
addition to his unexpired term, thus securing 
his services during the time improvements 
were being made. In 1890, however, he 
resigned his position in the college to engage 
in his present business. 

Since that time Professor Hansen has 
given his entire time and attention to the 
Steel Brick Siding Company. As before 
stated he is the original patentee of the 
steel brick siding, but as usually follows the 
advent of a meritorious discovery or inven- 
tion, he has had imitators who have sought 
to divide the credit and profit with him. He 
has extended the business and enlarged his 
plant to meet the growing demands of his 
trade until he now has one of the most im- 
portant industries in this section. Located on 
three different railroads and the Mississippi 
river which affords him excellent facilities for 



shipping both the material and finished arti- 
cle, and the products of his plant are now 
sold from New York to California. These 
are so well-known and generally used as to 
need no description. The siding is made 
from the best bessemer steel, pressed in imi- 
tation of brick; its beauty, durability, cheap- 
ness and fire-proof qualities, have brought 
this new building material into great favor. 

In Blue Mound, Macon county, Illinois, 
November 11, 1877, Professor Hansen was 
united in marriage with Miss Laura Wilcox, 
a native of Morgan county, this state, and 
a daughter of James and Mary (Sims) Wil- 
cox. To them have been born five children, 
namely: Charles Roy, who is now a stu- 
dent in the Northern Illinois College; Lena 
M., also a student in the Northern Illinois 
College; Arthur, who died at the age of two 
years; CarLW.; and Auber M. 

There is probably no man in Fulton that 
has done more for its development and pros- 
perity in the last decade than Professor Han- 
sen, who has taken a very active and prom- 
inent part in promoting its interests. He 
was one of the organizers of the Fulton De- 
velopment Company, served as its first sec- 
retary and later as its president. He was 
instrumental in securing the location here 
of the Mississippi Valley Stove Company, 
for which a bonus of thirty thousand dollars 
was raised. He is one of the most influen- 
tial and prominent Republicans in the town, 
and is now a member of the county central 
committee and chairman of the township 
committee. Fraternally he is a Master Ma- 
son, a member of the Modern ^^'oodmen of 
America, the Mystic Workers of the W'orld 
and a number of other beneficiary orders. 
For the past seven years he has been pres- 
ident of the board of trustees of the North- 
ern Illinois College at Fulton. 



274 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



SYLVESTER M. COX, a prominent 
stock breeder residing on section 26, 
Prophetstown township, Whiteside county, 
lUinois, was born upon his present farm 
Octobers, 1858, and is a representative of 
an old New York family of English origin. 
His grandfather, William Cox, was a native 
of that state and a soldier of the war of 
1812. 

Luther Cox, father of our subject, was 
born in Cattaraugus county. New York, in 
1818, and was reared there, but when a 
young man went to Berrien county, Mich- 
igan, where he married Miss Sarah Lane, 
an aunt of William Lane, whose sketch ap- 
pears elsewhere in this volume. In 1856 
Luther Cox came to Whiteside county, Illi- 
nois, and purchased a farm of eighty acres 
in Prophetstown township, where our sub- 
ject now resides. Throughout the greater 
part of his life he followed the blacksmith's 
trade in connection with farming, and upon 
his place he erected a shop, doing the black- 
smithing for the neighborhood. He died 
upon his farm in 1888, his wife in 1882, 
honored and respected by all who knew 
them. To this worthy couple were born 
eight children, two dying in infanc}': Amelia 
married Benjamin Doyle and removed to 
Minnesota, where she was massacred by the 
Indians about 1863; Cornelius was a soldier 
of the Civil war and died at the battle of 
Murfreesboro, Tennessee; W'illiam E. is 
married and engaged in business in Hast- 
ings, Nebraska; Emma Jane resides with 
our subject; Josephine married George 
Gage but is now deceased, and Sylvester 
M. completes the family. 

In much the usual manner of farmer 
boys of his day, our subject was reared and 
educated, assisting his father in the labors 
of the field and attending the district 



schools when his services were not needed 
at home. For some 3'ears prior to his fa- 
ther's death he took charge of the farm and 
business pertaining to it, and when his 
father died he succeeded to the place. He 
has made many improvements thereon, in- 
cluding the erection of a good residence, 
and has recently completed a large barn, 
which is one of the best in the neighbor- 
hood. In 1896 he began breeding pure- 
blood Poland China hogs, and in this under- 
taking has met with marked success. He 
now has a fine drove of one hundred 
pure-blooded animals, besides having sold 
some very valuable stock, and as a breed- 
er has already gained an enviable repu- 
tation. 

In Prophet'stown, February 17, 1879, 
Mr. Cox was united in marriage with Miss 
Eva Howland, who was born, reared and 
educated in Kendall county, Illinois, but 
latter came with her father, Myron How- 
land, to Whiteside county. Mr. Cox has 
been called upon to mourn the loss of his 
estimable wife, who died April 17, 1S89. 
By that union three children were born, 
namely: Floyd M., Dollie M. and Priscilla. 
The son now assists his father in carrying on 
the farm and stock business. 

In his political views, Mr. Cox has been 
a life-long Republican, and cast his first 
presidential ballot for U. S. Grant in 1872. 
He takes an active interest in public affairs, 
as every true American citizen should, and 
is a friend of education and the public school 
system. He ever gives his hearty support 
to all educational matters, and was presi- 
dent of the school board for some years. 
He is a prominent member of the Odd Fel- 
lows lodge of Prophetstown, in which he 
has held office, and wherever known he is 
held in high regard. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



275 



AC. WILLIAMSON, a young business 
man of Fulton, is one of the leading 
druggists of the city. He was born March 
16, 1873, in Swedonia, Mercer county, Illi- 
nois, a son of James W. Williamson. 

His father was born and educated in 
Allegheny county, Penn.sylvania, but came 
to Illinois while yet a young man, hoping 
in the broad prairies of the west to find 
unlimited opportunities for improving his 
financial condition. When ready to estab- 
lish a home lie located at Orion, Henry 
county, where he carried on general farm- 
ing until his removal to Creston, Iowa, 
where he is now living. In 1869 he mar- 
ried Mary B. Cook, who was born in Scot- 
land, but at the age of sixteen years came 
to America with her parents, who settled 
in Orion, Illinois. Two children were born 
into their household, namely: A. C, the 
special subject of this brief biographical 
notice; and Blanche, who lives with her 
parents. 

A. C. Williamson was twelve years of 
age when he went with his parents to Cres- 
ton, in whose public schools he completed 
his early studies. At the age of si.xteen, he 
took the first steps leading to a mercantile 
career by entering the drug store of Schif- 
ferle & Co., at Creston, remaining there a 
year. Having decided, however, to pre- 
pare himself for the occupation in which 
he was now employed he entered the Illi- 
nois College of Pharmacy, at the North 
Western University, from which he was 
graduated in 1893. Coming then to Fulton, 
Mr. \\'illiamson accepted a position with 
George B. Robinson, in the store where he 
is now established. In 1895 Mr. William- 
son purchased the business of Mr. Robin- 
son, and he has built up a thriving trade, 
his ability, practical judgment, and system- 



atic business methods bringing him as- 
sured success in his dealings, and his future 
is bright with promises. 

In politics Mr. Williamson is a stanch 
Republican. Fraternally he is prominent 
in Masonic circles, being a member of Ful- 
ton City lodge. No. 189, A. F. & A. M. ; 
of Fulton chapter, No. 108, R. A. M. ; 
and of Sterling commandery. No. 57, K. 
T. Religiously he is a member of the First 
Presbyterian church, of Fulton. 



AARON POPE, an energetic and pro- 
gressive farmer, residing on section i 5, 
Tampico township, owns and operates three 
good faru5S in Whiteside county, aggregat- 
ing four hundred and sevent3'-five acres of 
land, and in their improvement and cultiva- 
tion he is meeting with most excellent re- 
sults. He is honored and respected by the 
entire community, who look upon him as 
one of their most wide-awake farmers and 
valued citizens. 

The earl}' home of our subject was on 
the other side of the Atlantic, for he was 
born in Lincolnshire, England, February 
23, 1845, a son of Abraham and Sarah 
(Crampton) Pope, also natives of Lincoln- 
shire. In 1853 the family emigrated to 
America and located at once in Lyndon 
township, Whiteside county, Illinois. Later 
the father purchased land in Tampico town- 
ship and engaged in farming there for a 
number of years, but about 1874 removed 
to Vancouvers island, where he spent the 
remainder of his life. 

On the home farm in this county Aaron 
Pope grew to manhood, and he attended 
the district schools of the neighborhood. 
On leaving home, at the age of twenty-two, 



276 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



he went to Missouri, where he spent four 
months, and on his return to lihnois, at the 
end of that time, he purchased the old 
homestead, comprising one hundred and 
sixty acres, to which he has added until it 
now consists of two hundred and forty acres. 
He bought another farm of one hundred and 
sixty acres in Hume township, and resided 
there until 1S93, when he removed to his 
present place. Here he has seventy-five 
acres within the corporate limits of Tampico, 
and in connection with its operation also 
carries on the other farms, which he still 
owns. He has made a decided success of 
life, becoming one of the most prosperous 
agriculturists of his community, as well as 
one of its leading citizens. 

In this county, February 22, 1874, was 
celebrated the marriage of Mr. Pope and 
Miss Mary A. Wetsel, who was born in 
Ohio, but was reared and educated here. 
Her father, Daniel Wetsel, now of Rock 
Falls, was one of the early settlers of the 
county. Mr. and Mrs. Pope have three 
children: John Thomas, the oldest, now 
lives on one of his father's farms. He was 
married, September 21, 1898, to Miss Min- 
nie Parents, a daughter of William Parents, 
of Tampico, where she was reared and edu- 
cated. Sadie, Eliza and Willard A. are 
still attending the home school. 

Politically, Mr. Pope is a stanch Repub- 
lican, having supported that party since 
casting his first presidential vote for General 
U. S. Grant, in 1868. He has filled the 
office of highway commissioner, was a mem- 
ber of the drainage commission nine years, 
and has ever given his influence and support 
to those measures which tend to advance 
the moral, educational or material welfare 
of his township and county. Socially, he 
is a member of the Modern Woodmen of 



America, and religiously his estimable wife 
is a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
church. 



ROBERT SNOW NORRISH, a well- 
known and honored citizen of Morrison, 
who is now practically living retired, was 
born in Devonshire, England, October i, 
1826, a son of Samuel and Frances (Par- 
tridge) Norrish, who made their home in 
that county throughout life. The father 
was a farmer, malster and miller by occTi- 
pation and became quite prosperous. In 
the family were nine children, of whom our 
subject is the seventh in order of birth. 
Those still living are Elizabeth, a resident 
of England; Frances, of Union township, 
Whiteside county, Illinois; Edward S. , a 
farmer of Dunn count}', Wisconsin; Robert 
S., our subject; and Ann, wife of Amos 
James, who is living retired in Morrison. 

In his native land our subject grew to 
manhood, and after his education was com- 
pleted served a three years' apprenticeship 
to the baker's trade, which he c6ntinued to 
follow there until the spring of 1850, when 
he emigrated to America. He first located 
in Lorrain county, Ohio, where he worked 
as a farm hand by the month, for a short 
time, and then rented a mill, which he 
operated for a year. During his residence 
in Lorrain county, he married Miss Tamzin 
Squire, also a native of Devonshire, Eng- 
land, and a daughter of Thomas and Su- 
sanna Squire, who settled in that county on 
coming to America. By that union Mr. 
Norrish had two children, but the older, 
Samuel, died in infancy. Margaret is now 
the wife of Homer Baird,a farmer of Union 
Grove township, this county, and they have 
five children, Robert, Florence, Roy, 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



277 



Frank and Ruth. Mrs. Norrish died in 
Mt. Pleasant township, Whiteside county, 
in October, 1863. 

For a year after his marriage, Mr. Nor- 
rish operated a rented farm in Lorrain coun- 
ty, Ohio, and in 1853 came to Whiteside 
county, Illinois. He purchased eighty 
acres of land on section 8, Mt. Pleasant 
township, which was covered with timber, 
the only improvement upon the place be- 
ing a log cabin. He at once turned his at- 
tention to clearing and cultivating his land. 
The same year he bought from the state 
eighty acres of prairie land on section 2, 
upon which not a furrow had been turned. 
Astime advanced and his financial resources 
increased he added to his landed possessions 
until he now has nine hundred and thirty 
acres of valuable land in Whiteside county, 
besides three hundred and twenty acres in 
Sioux county, Iowa; eighty acres in Clay 
county, Nebraska; one hundred and sixty 
acres in Webster county, the same state, 
and town property in Morrison. He con- 
tinued to actively engage in agricultural 
pursuits until the 2nd of July, 1890, when 
he removed to Morrison, where he erected 
a handsome residence, and is now living re- 
tired. While living upon his farm he gave 
the greater part of his time and attention 
to stock raising, and usually shipped three 
or four car loads of cattle and hogs to 
market each year. He also raised sheep on 
quite an extensive scale. 

Mr. Norrish was again married, March 2, 
1865, in Cuyahoga county, Ohio, his second 
union being with Miss Ann Adams, who was 
born in Yorkshire, England, February 17, 
1827, a daughter, of George and Martha 
(Hargate) Adams, also natives of Yorkshire, 
where the father operated a gristmill until 
his emigration to America in 1846. With 



his wife and four children he crossed the 
broad Atlantic and took up his residence in 
Strongsville, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, where 
he purchased a gristmill and sawmill and 
engaged in the same business up to the 
time of his death, which occurred in i860, 
when he was sixty years of age. His wife 
departed this life in 1868. Their children 
were James, who died in Ohio, in 1864; 
Ann, wife of our subject; William, who died 
in Huron county, Ohio, in 1870; and Mary, 
wife of John Dyke, a retired resident of 
Elyria, Lorrain county, Ohio. By his 
second marriage Mr. Norrish had three 
children: Robert A., born December 18, 
1866, resides on section 2, Mt. Pleasant 
township; he married Gertrude Parnham, 
of Ustick township, and they have two chil- 
dren, Frank and Edith M. Mary died in 
infancy. John W., born November 4, 1870, 
married Edna Smith, of Moville, Iowa, 
where he is engaged in business as a dealer 
in furniture and agricultural implements 
and where he also owns four hundred and 
eighty acres of farm land. Mr. and Mrs. 
Norrish are both members of the Episcopal 
church, and are held in high regard by all 
who know them. In politics he was a 
Republican until after the Blaine cfimpaign 
of 1884, but now votes for the man whom 
he believes best qualified to fill the office, 
regardless of party ties. He has always 
made the most of his opportunities, has 
accumulated a handsome property, and his 
life illustrates what can be accomplished 
through industry, perseverance, good man- 
agement and a determination to succeed. 



ORE HOLMQUESTis a man whosesuc- 
cessful struggle with adverse circum- 
stances shows what can be accomplished 



278 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



by industry and economy, especially if a 
sensible wife second his efforts to secure a 
home and competence. Coming to the new 
world without means, he has labored ear- 
nestly and his well-directed efforts have been 
crowned with success for he is now the 
owner of an excellent farm of two hundred 
acres on section 14, Prophetstown township. 
Mr. Holmquest was born in Sweden, 
December 20, 1S34, and as his parents 
died during his childhood, he has been de- 
pendent upon his own resources for a liveli- 
hood from an early age. In his native 
land he worked on a farm, in a factory, or 
at anything which he could find to do, and 
as his time was wholly taken up in this 
way, his educational advantages were neces- 
sarily limited. His knowledge of the Eng- 
lish language has all been obtained through 
his own unaided efforts since coming to this 
country. 

In 1868, with the hope of benefiting his 
financial condition, Mr. Holmquest came to 
America, taking passage on a vessel from 
Denmark to Liverpool, England, whence 
he crossed the Atlantic to Boston. He pro- 
ceeded at once to New York, and on west 
to Princeton, Bureau county, Illinois, where 
he found employment at ditching and fol- 
lowed that employment for about two years, 
making fair wages. He then rented land 
near Yorktown and engaged in farming in 
Bureau county for three years. Coming to 
Whiteside county, in 1874, he bought two 
hundred acres of raw land, which he broke, 
fenced, ditched and improved, transforming 
it into one of the best farms of the locality. 
He paid eight hundred dollars toward the 
county ditch which runs through his farm. 
Upon his place he has erected a good set of 
farm buildings which stand as monuments 
to his thrift and enterprise. 



In Princeton, Bureau county, Mr. Holm- 
quest was married, in 1875, to Miss Ida Ol- 
son, also a native of Sweden, and to them 
have been born three sons, namely: Albert 
and Oscar, who have started out in life for 
themselves; and Anton, who is still at 
home. In making his farm what we to- 
day see it, Mr. Holmquest has been ably 
assisted by his family. He and his wife at- 
tend the Lutheran church of Prophetstown, 
and he affiliates with the Democratic party, 
particularly at national elections. 



SOLOMON FARWELL, who resides on 
section 12, Union Grove township, came 
to Whiteside county in 1853. He was born 
in Denmark, Lewis count}'. New York, Jan- 
uary II, 1827, and is the son of Solomon 
and Sabina (Burlingame) Farwell, both of 
whom were natives of Vermont, but who 
moved to Lewis county. New York, and 
there spent the remainder of their lives. 
They were the parents of eleven children, 
two of whom died in infanc}'. Of the re- 
maining children. Submit married Parley 
Brown, by whom she had eight children. 
Both are now deceased. Eunice married 
John Adams, but both are now deceased. 
They had six children. Leonard is deceased. 
Sabina married Moses Brown, and was the 
mother of nine children. Both are de- 
ceased. Selah, now deceased, married and 
left a family of seven children. Eliza mar- 
ried Rollo Fox, but died leaving five chil- 
dren. Selah has one daughter living in 
Morrison, Mrs. A. J. Phileo. Phila E. mar- 
ried Ebenezer Adsit, by whom she had 
seven children. She is deceased. Hannah 
married Allen Pitkin, but is now deceased. 
She had one child. Solomon is the subject 
of our sketch. Both parents died on the 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



2/9 



old homestead in New York, at the age of 
seventy-five years. 

The subject of this sketch was reared in 
his native state, and in its common schools 
received his education. At the age of thir- 
teen years he commenced life for himself, 
and after working as a farm hand for a time, 
he was apprenticed to learn the carpenter's 
trade, an occupation which he followed the 
greater portion of his life. He was married 
February 4, 1848, to Margaret Plank, also 
a native of Lewis county. New York, born 
September 21, 1828, and daughter of John 
and Eleanor (Ostrander) Plank, both of 
whom were natives of Troy, New York. 
By occupation, her father was a dairy farm- 
er, and was quite successful in life. Her 
grandfather, Henry Plank, was a soldier in 
the war of 181 2. John Plank and wife were 
the parents of four children, of whom Mar- 
garet, the wife of our subject, is the only 
one now living. Hannah married M. L. 
Bedell, but both are now deceased. They 
were residents of Ustick township, White- 
side county, where their death occurred. 
They had two children, of whom one son, 
William, is yet living in the township. 
Nancy married John Canfield, by whom she 
had ten children. She died at their home 
in Nebraska. Henry married and had two 
children. He made his home in Colorado, 
where his death occurred. The parents of 
these children both died at the age of forty- 
one years, in their old home in New York. 
After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Far- 
well located in the village of Denmark, New 
York, where he worked at his trade for five 
years. They then came to Whiteside county 
and located in Ustick township, where Mr. 
Farwell purchased a farm of sixty acres, 
which he operated for some years in con- 
nection with his trade. In 1863 he pur- 



chased a farm of seventy-eight acres in 
Union Grove township, to which he removed 
with his family, and there remained two 
years. He then traded farms and moved 
back to Ustick township, where he remained 
fifteen years, at the expiration of which 
time he moved to Uniotiville, and there re- 
sided ten years. For the next five years 
the family lived in Morrison, and then he 
purchased the place where he now resides 
in 1898. The house he built for another 
person in 1867. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Farwell nine children 
have been born, one dying in infancy. Celia 
H., born November 17, 1848, married Will- 
iam Leckey, and they have two daughters 
and three sons: Edward, Lulu, Harry, Roy 
and Anita. They reside in Hampton, Iowa, 
where Mr. Leckey is engaged in the mer- 
cantile business. Emma, born September 
3, 1850, is now the wife of William Latham, 
and they have two children, Helen and Tal- 
bott. Their home is in DeWitt, Iowa. 
Carrie, born April 10, 1852, is the wife o 
George Rider, by whom she has two chil- 
dren: Kate and George. Their home is also 
in DeWitt, Iowa, where Mr. Rider is living 
a retired life. J. D., born June 24, 1856, 
has been twice married, his first union being 
with Louisa Hill, by whom he had eight 
children: Fred, Bessie, John, Luella, Min- 
nie, Mable, Ora and Orville. His second 
union was with Mary Jones, by whom he 
had five children: Volney, Leona, Robert, 
Edna and McKinley. His home is in Lyn- 
don township, where he is engaged in farm- 
ing. Nellie, born September 3, 1859, is the 
wife of George W. Burt, living in Ustick 
township, of whotn a sketch is found else- 
where in this volume. Minnie, born De- 
cember 23, 1861, married William Cutler, 
and they had one child, Laura. For her 



2So 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



second husband she married Warren G. 
Bent, and they now live in Miliedgeville, 
Carroll county, Illinois. Fred, born Janu- 
ary 15, 1864, married Lizzie Traubler, and 
they have two sons: Royand Harry. Their 
home is in Frederika, Iowa. Lulu, born 
May 30, 1866, is the wife of Frank Howard, 
by whom she had two children, one living, 
Mae. They make their home with our sub- 
ject. 

^^'hlle residing in Union Grove town- 
ship Mr. Farwell served si.x years as justice 
of the peace, and while in Ustick township 
served as assessor and town clerk for a time. 
In politics he is a Republican, with which 
party he has been identified since its or- 
ganization. Religiously he is a Universalist, 
he and his wife holding membership with 
the church of that name in Morrison. Until 
1883 he worked at his trade, and many of 
the dwellings and barns jn Ustick and ad- 
joining township were erected by him. He 
also erected the church in Round Grove. 
He is now practically living a retired life. 



CAROLINE B. COLE, widow of the 
late Daniel Cole, came to Whiteside 
county sixty-two years ago, when Portland 
township was in its infancy, and has resided 
here most of the time since. Wild turkey, 
deer, and other game were abundant, help- 
ing oftentimes to supply the family larder, 
and the wily red man inhabited the woods, 
frequently making life a terror to the white 
settlers. Town, county and state have 
made wonderful progress in all directions 
within her remembrance, and the center of 
the population of the United States has 
steadily pushed westward until it is now 
near the Mississippi, with the possibility of 
touching the Pacific coast in the future. 



Within the limits of Illinois busy cities have 
grown, more especially Chicago, which had 
less than a score of houses when she passed 
through it on her way to her new home, in 
1837, and is now the second city of the 
Union. 

Mrs. Cole was born in Virgil, Cortland 
county. New York, June 22, 1817, a daugh- 
ter of Daniel Blasdell. Her father was born 
and brought up in Vermont, where he lived 
until after his marriage with Clara C. Gard- 
ner, also of the Green Mountain state. Mr. 
Blasdel was a man of versatile talent, ex- 
pert in the use of tools, and possessed of 
good business ability. Soon after his mar- 
riage he settled in Cortland county. New 
York, where he worked as carpenter and 
joiner, besides doing some coopering and 
shoemaking, and afterward engaged for a 
time in mercantile business. In 1827 he re- 
moved with his family to Broome county, 
where, in the town of Lisle, he opened a 
general store, purchased a half interest in a 
grist mill, which he operated for a while, 
and in addition engaged in agricultural pur- 
suits on the farm that he bought. In 1835 
he came to Illinois, bringing with hnii his 
son, and having selected a desirable loca- 
tion in Portland township commenced the 
improvement of a homestead. In 1837 he 
sent for his wife and their daughter Caro- 
line, Mrs. Cole, who arrived here October 
19. From Ithaca, New York, they jour- 
neyed by canal to Buffalo, thence around 
the lakes to Chicago, which then had neither 
streets nor sidewalks, consisting of about a 
dozen houses, one boarding house, and one 
store, that of Kinsey & Hunter. There 
they hired teams to bring them to this coun- 
ty, and a long dreary ride, over almost im- 
passable roads, they had. Mr. and Mrs. 
Blasdell spent the remainder of their lives 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



281 



on the homestead which they redeemed 
from its pristine wildness. 

Caroline C. Blasdell remained with her 
parents until her marriage, December 18, 
1839, to Daniel Cole, who was born and 
reared in New York state, and came to this 
locality at the same time that she did, in 
1837. He saw her while cu route, in Chi- 
cago, but had no opportunity to form an 
acquaintance until the following winter, 
when he met her at Rock River. He was a 
brother of Horace B. Cole, whose sketch 
appears elsewhere in this volume. After 
their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Cole settled on 
what they deemed the most desirable land 
of the township. He soon cleared a space, 
and on it built the typical log house of the 
pioneer, which they occupied for thirteen 
years, while opening up and developing the 
farm, which comprised two hundred acres 
of prairie and twenty acres of timber. In 
1852 he built a substantial residence, and 
put up one of the finest barns in this vicin- 
ity. He was a man of indomitable resolu- 
tion and perseverance, and made good suc- 
cess in his untiring efforts, improving an ex- 
cellent farm, whereon he resided until his 
death, January 19, 1884. Mr. Cole was 
recognized as one of the representative men 
of Portland township, which he served in 
various official capacities, having been 
supervisor a number of terms, and for 
the twenty-six years preceding his death was 
justice of the peace. Fraternally he was a 
member of the Masonic order, and promi- 
nently connected with the Odd Fellows, the 
lodge to which he belonged having taken 
charge of burial services. 

Mr. and Mrs. Cole reared two children, 
as follows: AlmonB. , for several years a 
lawyer in Macomb, Illinois, moved from there 
to Dallas, Texas, where he engaged in the 

16 



practice of his profession until his death, 
October 31, 1882; and Antoinette, who 
died in early womanhood, on November 20, 
1868. Almon B. Cole left three children, 
namely: Frank B., a machinist, at Morri- 
son; Nettie is the wife of W. S. Rugh, 
and Elizabeth lives in Kansas City, 
Missouri, with her mother. Mrs. Cole re- 
sided on the farm for nearly two years after 
her husband's death, then went to Paola, 
Kansas, where she lived with her daughter- 
in-law from February, 1885, until July 14, 
1898, when she returned to her Illinois 
home. 



WILLIAM BUTMAN, now living re- 
tired two miles and a half east of 
Fulton, this county, was for many years of 
his active life identified with the railway 
service of our country. He was born in 
Rutland, \'ermont, February 10, 1821, a 
son of James W. and Esther (Moulthrop) 
Butman, the former of whom was a native 
of Salem, Massachusetts, and a sea captain. 
William Butman spent a part of his 
early life in Elmira, New York, from 
whence he went to Dundee, New York, to 
assume the publication of the "Dundee 
Record" in which he had purchased a half 
interest. After two years in that position, 
he became connected with the Rochester 
& Buffalo Railway, which was one of the 
seven roads running between Buffalo and 
Albany that have since been consolidated 
into the New York Central railroad. He 
was employed as baggageman for a time, 
then made conductor of a passenger train 
running from Rochester to Buffalo, a posi- 
tion that he held twenty years, when he 
was forced to give it up on account of fail- 
ing health. Going next into the New York 



2<S2 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Custom House as custom house examiner 
and verifier, he remained there three years, 
when he was offered what he considered a 
more desirable position, that of conductor 
on the Detroit, Lansing & Northern- Railway, 
at that time just completed. He accepted, 
and served as conductor of the first train 
that went over the road, running from De- 
troit to Howard City. This was in 1872, 
and he continued with the company fourteen 
years. He was held in high favor by the 
officials of the road, and was very popular 
with the traveling public, as testified by a 
recommendation from James F. Joy, part 
owner, and the best known president of that 
road, that he has still in his possession, 
commending his qualities as an efficient 
conductor, and otherwise complimenting 
him. 

While in the Custom House, Mr. But- 
man had bought, as an investment, three 
hundred acres of land on section 26, Fulton 
township, Whiteside county, and on this he 
has resided since retiring from the road, but 
has never engaged in agricultural pursuits, 
having leased his land. 

In 1841, Mr. Butman married Clarissa 
Booth, daughter of Elisha Booth, a Baptist 
minister, of New York state. She died in 
1871, leaving three children, as follows: 
Theodore F., who at the time of his death, 
in 1877, was secretary and treasurer of the 
Detroit, Lansing & Northern Railway Com- 
pany; William, who died December i, 1898; 
and Emily E., wife of J. W. Boyer, who 
for many years has held a responsible posi- 
tion with the American Express Company, 
at Detroit. On September 17, 1873, Mr. 
Butman was again married, Abbie Goodrich 
becoming his wife. She was born in Hub- 
bard, Trumbull county, Ohio, a daughter 
of Leonard and Juliet (Standish) Goodrich, 



and a direct descendant of Captain Miles 
Standish, the Mayflower Pilgrim made fa- 
mous by our beloved poet, Henry W. Long- 
fellow. Of this union seven children have 
been born, three of whom are living, 
namely: Frank, agent for the American 
Express Company, running on the North- 
western Railway, from Janesville, Wiscon- 
sin, to Harvard; Clifton and Nellie; two 
died in infancy, James and Etta M. Mr. 
Butman is a Knight Templar, having been 
made a Mason at Rochester, New York, 
after which he joined the chapter and com- 
mandery at Buffalo, New York. Mrs. But- 
man, a woman of culture and refinement, 
has been a member of the Baptist church. 



HIRAM BOGART, a well-known farmer 
residing on section 25, Prophetstown 
township, Whiteside county, Illinois, was 
born on the west side of the Hudson river, 
in Ulster county. New York, September 24, 
1 83 1, and is a son of Henry Bogart, who 
was born in the same county, in 1801, and 
there married Elizabeth Winchell, an aunt 
of J. J. Winchell, whose sketch appears on 
another page of this volume. The parents 
spent their entire lives in Ulster county, as 
farming people, the father dying there Feb- 
ruary 18, 1883, at the age of eighty-two 
years; the mother June 15, 1894, at the age 
of ninety-two. They had a family of five 
children, namely: Mrs. Sarah Coons, of 
Ulster county. New York; Mrs. Catherine 
Elmendorf, of Morrison, Illinois; Charlotta, 
wife of Cornelius Elmendorf, of Kingston, 
New York; Hiram, our subject; and Alva, 
of Ulster county. New York. 

In the county of his nativity, Hiram 
Bogart passed his boyhood and youth and 
was provided with a good common-school 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



28- 



education. There he was married, June 4, 
185 I, to Miss Elizabeth Keator, a daughter 
of Stephen Keator, of Marbletown, Ulster 
county. They began their domestic life on 
a farm in the town of Olive, that county, 
but later moved to Tioga, Tioga county, 
New York, where Mr. Bogart purchased a 
farm of seventy acres, which he operated 
two years and then sold at an advance and 
returned to his native county. There he 
continued to follow farming until 185S, 
when he came to Illinois and joined some 
friends in Whiteside county, including his 
uncle, Joseph Winchell, and other Ulster 
county people. After renting land for one 
year he bought one hundred and twenty 
acres of wild land where he now lives, and 
located thereon in i86o. Here the family 
began life in true pioneer style and were 
forced to undergo all the hardships and 
privations incident to such a life. The land 
was wet and little could be raised until it 
was drained. The first year Mr. Bogart was 
ill with malaria and in the fall the children 
took the whooping-cough. He and his wife 
often became very discouraged in those 
early days, but at length times became bet- 
ter and their labors were crowned with suc- 
cess. To his original purchase Mr. Bogart 
added a tract of eighty acres, and for some 
years operated the entire two hundred acres, 
but after his son Henry's marriage he gave 
him the latter place. While carrying on the 
work of improving his own farm, he also 
operated rented land for two years. Upon 
his place he set out forest, fruit and orna- 
mental trees, shrubs, etc., and built a large 
and substantial house, barn and other out- 
buildings, converting it into a well-improved 
and valuable farm. During the first year 
spent here he had to haul his grain and prod- 
uce to Sterling, which was then the nearest 



market place, and much of this region was 
still in its primitive condition. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Bogart were born si.K 
children: Henry, a resident of Rock Falls; 
Sarah Ellen, who married Henry Smead, 
and died, leaving one child, Bessie; Eva 
Lila, who died at the age of six years; Ida 
E., at home; Lottie, wife of Willis Robin- 
son, of Chicago; and Eva May, wife of 
Frank Irvine, of Whiteside county. The 
parents were both reared in the Baptist 
church and still adhere to that faith. In 
political sentiment Mr. Bogart is a stalwart 
Democrat, though he cast his first presi- 
dential vote for the Whig candidate. General 
Scott. He takes an active interest in educa- 
tional affairs, and was an efficient member 
of the school board for sixteen years. He 
never withholds his support from any enter- 
prise which he believes will prove of public 
benefit or advance the welfare of his town- 
ship or county. 



DJ. POLLOCK, D. D. S., a popular 
and successful dentist of Sterling, is a 
native of Illinois, born in Freeport, Steph- 
enson county, June 22, 1850, and is a son 
of John and Sarah (Morton) Pollock, natives 
of Ohio and Maine, respectively. The fa- 
ther was twenty-two years of age when he 
came to Illinois and located with his brother 
Thomas near Freeport, where they pur- 
chased a tract of land from the government. 
There he successfully engaged in farming 
for many years, becoming a large land owner 
and one of the most prosperous citizens of 
the community. He died there in April, 
1893, but his wife is still living and now 
makes her home with a daughter in Dakota, 
Illinois. One of their eight children died 
in infancy, but the others reached man and 



284 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



womanhood, namely: Quincy, Sarah J., 
Ann, David J., Mary, John and Jennie. All 
are still living with the exception of Quincy, 
who was orderly sergeant of Company A, 
Forty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, dur- 
ing the Civil war, and was killed in the 
battle of Pittsburg Landing, in 1861. 

Dr. Pollock, of this review, received his 
early education in the schools near his boy- 
hood home, and later attended Mount 
Morris College and Beloit College, where 
he pursued a literary course. Although a 
mere boy he entered the service of his coun- 
try during the dark days of the Rebellion, 
enlisting in February, 1863, in Company A, 
Forty-sixth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, 
and was mustered into the United States 
service at Camp Randall, Madison, Wiscon- 
sin, where the regiment was assigned to the 
Western Army, Fourth Army Corps, under 
General Thomas. With his command he 
went first to Nashville, Tennessee, but the 
train was stopped at Bowling Green, Ken- 
tucky, that the regiment might participate 
in a skirmish there. From Nashville, they 
went to Huntsville, and later to Decatur, 
Alabama, and then followed Hood back to 
Nashville. They took part in the battle at 
that place, and in the second engagement 
at Franklin, Tennessee. After that they 
went into camp at Athens, Alabama, and 
spent the remainder of their service in doing 
guard duty, being mustered out in Septem- 
ber, 1865, and discharged at Madison, W^is- 
consin. 

It was after his return from the war that 
Dr. Pollock attended college. He began 
preparations for the dental profession at 
the New Orleans Dental College, and on 
completing the prescribed course, he en- 
gaged in practice in Havana and Santiago, 
Cuba, for one year each. On his return to 



the United States, he engaged in practice 
in St. Louis for a time and attended the 
Western College of Dental Surgery. After 
graduating from that institution, he came to 
Sterling, Illinois, in 1875, and opened an 
office. For a few years he was alone in 
practice, then for six years was in partner- 
ship with Dr. Beckwith, but since that time 
he has remained alone. He is one of the 
leading dentists of the city and enjoys an 
excellent patronage. 

On the 1st of January, 1870, Dr. Pol- 
lock was united in marriage with Miss Ella 
Garber, a native of Iowa, who died in Au- 
gust, 1887, leaving two children; Lena, at 
home; and Ernest, who died at the age of 
twenty-five years. The Doctor was again 
married, October 25, 18S8, his second union 
being with Miss Emma Horlacher, a native 
of Illinois, and a daughter of Godfred Hor- 
lacher, deceased, who was a farmer of 
Whiteside county. Socially Dr. Pollock is 
a member of Corinthian lodge. No. 63, K. 
P., and politically is a stanch supporter of 
the Democratic party. As a citizen he 
faithfully performs every duty that devolves 
upon him, so that his loyalty is above ques- 
tion, being manifest in days of peace as well 
as when he followed the old flag to victory 
on southern battle fields. He is one of the 
representative men of the community and 
is worthy the high regard in which he is 
uniformly held. 



NATHAN MEEK. Prominent among 
the citizens of Whiteside county who 
have witnessed the marvelous development 
of this section of the state in the past sixty 
years, and who have, by honest toil and in- 
dustr)', succeeded in acquiring a competence, 
and are now able to spend the sunset of life 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



285 



in quiet and retirement, is the gentleman 
whose name introduces this sketch, and who 
resides on section 35, Tampico township. 

Mr. Meek was born in Delaware county, 
Ohio, February 23, 1839 His father, Rich- 
ard Meek, was born in the same state, in 
1816, and there married Miss Hannah Holt, 
whose birth occurred in Maryland, in 18 1 2. 
For some years he followed farming in Del- 
aware, Hardin and Union counties, Ohio, 
but in 1840 came to Illinois and took up his 
residence in Bureau county. He engaged 
in farming and blacksmithing there and in 
Lee county, and spent his last years in Wal- 
nut, Bureau county, Illinois, where he died 
in 1885. His wile survived him a few 
years, dying in 1 898. They were the par- 
ents of seven children, of whom two died 
young. The living are Mary, wife of Chris- 
topher Renner, of Nebraska; Nathan, our 
subject; William, a farmer near Walnut, 
Bureau county; Nancy, wife of Eli Harris, 
of Iowa; Betsy, wife of Reason Renner, of 
Walnut; Samuel, a resident of Nebraska; 
and Melissa, wife of John Wymer, of Ne- 
braska. 

Nathan Meek spent his early life in 
Bureau county, and being given a good 
practical education, he successfully engaged 
in teaching for two terms. He continued 
to make his home with his parents until 
grown, and aided in the work of the farm. 
On the 13th of August, 1862, he responded 
to his country's call for aid in crushing out 
the Rebellion, enlisting in Company I, 
Ninety-third Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He 
took part in the battles of Jackson, Missis- 
sippi, Champion Hills and Black River 
Bridge; was in the siege of Vicksburg, and 
later participated in the battles of Mission- 
ary Ridge and Altoona Pass; was on the 
march through Georgia and the Atlanta 



campaign and at Washington, and partici- 
pated in the Grand Review at Washington. 
He was wounded in the charge on Mission- 
arj' Ridge by a gunshot through the left 
arm and was in the hospital for a few days. 
He remained in the service until the close 
of the war, when he was honorably dis- 
charged, July 5, 1865, and returned home. 

On the 2 I St of January, 1866, Mr. Meek 
was united in marriage with Miss Catherine 
B. Adams, a daughter of William Adams. 
She was born in Indiana, but when a child 
was brought to this state and reared in 
Bureau county. They began housekeep- 
ing on his farm of eighty acres west of Wal- 
nut, and to its further improvement and cul- 
tivation he devoted his energies for seven 
years. He then sold the place and bought 
another of one hundred and thirty-eight 
acres on the north line of Bureau county, 
which he operated until his removal to his 
present farm on section 35, Tampico town- 
ship, Whiteside county, in 1884. He still 
owns both places, containing two hundred 
and ninety-eight acres of fine farming land, 
but leaves their cultivation to others while he 
devotes his time to raising and handling 
stock. Mr. Meek has been called upon to 
mourn the loss of his estimable wife, who 
died May 23, 1899, and was laid to rest in 
Greenville cemetery. Bureau county. To 
them were born four sons, as follows: Will- 
iam F., who is a well-educated young man 
and a successful teacher; Samuel, who is 
engaged in farming on the home place; 
Richard, who carries on his father's farm in 
Bureau county; and John, at home. All 
have been provided with good school privi- 
leges and have engaged in teaching with the 
e.xception of Richard. 

In his political affiliations, Mr. Meek is 
a stalwart Democrat, and cast his first presi- 



286 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



dential vote for Stephen A. Douglas. He 
has never lost his interest in educational 
affairs, but has most efficiently served as a 
member of the school board for twenty 
years, and as president of the district for 
some years. He has also held the office of 
township trustee, and he has ever faithfully 
discharged every duty that has devolved 
upon him, whether public or private. In 
many respects his life is well worthy of 
emulation. 



MRS. MARY R. 1 
of Elisha Lockl 



LOCKHEART, widow 
Lockheart and a well-known 
resident of Fulton, is a woman of excellent 
business ability and marked intelligence, 
who has distinguished herself by her straight- 
forward, womanly course, no less than by 
the tact and energj' she has displayed in the 
management of her business affairs. She 
is a native of Nantucket, Massachusetts, 
and a daughter of Captain David and Pris- 
cilla Macy (Coffin) Cottle, also natives of 
Nantucket, the former born in 1819, the 
latter in 1829. At the age of si.xteen the 
father went to sea and spent about twenty 
years in the whaling business, mostly on 
the Pacific, and became master of a vessel. 
He was often away on a cruise four years at 
a time, and Mrs. Lockheart was four years 
old before she ever saw him. He made five 
voyages around the globe. In 1856 he re- 
tired from a sea-faring life and came west 
to Whiteside county, Illinois, locating in 
Garden Plain township, where he engaged 
in farming for some years but is now living 
retired with his daughter, Mrs. Lockheart, 
in Fulton. Mrs. Cottle died January 9, 
1899. In their family were four children, 
one son and three daughters, of whom Mrs. 
Lockheart is the eldest, the others being 



Eunice M., wife of William H. Story, who 
owns a large dairy farm near Monee, Illi- 
nois; Elizabeth; and David, a f:irmer of 
Fulton township, this county. 

Mrs. Lockheart received a good, prac- 
tical education in the schools of Garden 
Plain and Albany, and for eight years suc- 
cessfully engaged in teaching in the district 
schools of this county. Later she engaged 
in the dressmaking and millinery business 
in Cedar Falls, Iowa, for some time. On 
the loth of July, 1888, she gave her hand 
in marriage to Elisha Lockheart, and to 
them were born three children, namely: 
Elisha C, Macy H. and Priscilla D. 

Mr. Lockheart was born in the town of 
Greene, Adams count}', Ohio, May 21, 
1 82 1, and at the age of twelve years was 
made assistant manager of a woodyard on 
Brush Creek Island, in the Ohio river, for 
the purpose of supplying steamboats with 
wood. He continued in that business until 
the fall of 1845, when he came to White- 
side county, Illinois, and entered two hun- 
dred and thirty-one acres of land, two hun- 
dred acres of which was on section i i. Gar- 
den Plain township, and the remainder was 
timberland on section 8. The money with 
which he paid for this land he had saved 
from his earnings while working in the 
wood yard. Returning to his old home in 
Adams county, Ohio, he was married, No- 
vember 16, 1852, to Miss Rebecca Rinard, 
who died February 20, 1885, leaving no 
children, and was buried in Cottonwood 
cemetery. After his marriage, Mr. Lock- 
heart remained in Ohio until 1856, whtn 
he again came to Garden Plain township, 
Whiteside county, Illinois, and located on 
section 27, where he improved and culti- 
vated a farm, successfully operating it for 
some years. Soon after the death of his 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



287 



first wife he moved to Clinton, where he 
made his home until 1S90, and then came 
to Fulton. Economical, persevering and 
industrious, he amassed a snug fortune, and 
while a resident of Fulton was connected 
with several of the leading enterprises of 
the city, being at one time a stockholder in 
the Hellerstedt Carriage Company and pres- 
ident of the same; a stockholder in the Mis- 
sissippi Valley Stove Company; and one of 
the principal stockholders of the Fulton 
Electric Light & Power Company. At the 
time of his death he also owned eighteen 
hundred acres of valuable land in Whiteside 
county. Public-spirited and progressive, he 
cheerfully gave his support to those enter- 
prises that tend to public development, and, 
with hardly an e.\ception, he was connected 
with every interest that promoted the gen- 
eral welfare. He was a faithful member of 
the Presbyterian church, and his name was 
a synonym for honorable business dealing. 
For many years he affiliated with the Demo- 
cratic party, but during the last fifteen or 
twenty years of his life, he was an active 
and zealous member of the Prohibition party. 
He always took an active interest in educa- 
tional matters and most efficientlj' served as 
school director and school commissioner for 
many years. He died April 2, 1896, hon- 
ored and respected by all who knew him. 

In the management of his business af- 
fairs since her husband's death, Mrs. Lock- 
heart has displayed remarkable business 
ability. She has personal charge of the es- 
tate, and has been president of the Fulton 
Electric Light & Power Company since 
1895. She still retains her interest in 
schools and educational work, and from 
1894 until 1897 was an influential member 
of the school board of Fulton, but on the 
e.xpiration of her three years' term refused 



to fill the office longer. She, too, is an 
earnest member of the Presbyterian church, 
and is also a member of Merton chapter, 
No. 356, O. E. S., of which she is past 
worthy matron. Her father is one of the 
oldest Masons in the state, having united 
with the order in Union lodge, Nantucket, 
Massachusetts, in 1848. 



FRANK P. TIMMERMAN, a well-known 
and prosperous general merchant of 
Spring Hill, is a business man of ability and 
enterprise. He was born May 3, 1853, in 
Cattaraugus county, New York, a son of 
John and Rachel M. (Fuller) Timmerman, 
the latter a daughter of Levi and Betsey 
Fuller, natives of New York. 

John Timmerman was born in Johns- 
town, New York, and in his native state 
spent his earlier days. In 1861, being am- 
bitious to improve his fortunes by a change 
of location, he came with his family to 
"V^'hiteside county, and having rented land 
on Spring Hill was there engaged in the 
pursuit of agriculture until his death, in 
1898, at the venerable age of eighty-eight 
years. He took great interest in public 
matters, 'and while a resident of New York 
served as captain of the Thirty-fourth Com- 
pany of militia. His wife who preceded 
him to the better land, bore him nine chil- 
dren, as follows: Frank P., the special 
subject of this brief biographical sketch; 
Cordelia R., wife of Hiram Gilmore, of 
California; Mrs Mary Ann McCollister, of 
Arkansas; J. Delos, a soldier in the late Civil 
war, died at Benton Barracks, Missouri; 
Wesley, who is engaged in business at Erie, 
this county; L. E., also a business man of 
Erie; Alice, wife of Arthur Welding, of 
Spring Hill; Anna, wife of C. I. Merrill, 



288 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



of Prophetstown; and George, of Spring 
Hill. 

Frank P. Timmerman received a com- 
mon-school education, and until seventeen 
years old assisted his father in the labors 
incidental to farm life. The following three 
years he was employed as a builder of rail- 
way bridges in Missouri and Iowa, after 
which he returned to the parental home- 
stead, which he assisted in carrying on for 
two years. In 1877, soon after his mar- 
riage, he went to California, locating in Men- 
docino county, where he found employment 
in a paper manufactory. Having left his 
wife at home, he returned to Portland town- 
ship the next year, and here in company 
with his brother, L. E. Timmerman, estab- 
lished himself in the meat business, which 
he continued two years. Purchasing then 
seventy acres of land near Spring Hill, Mr. 
Timmerman carried on general farming ten 
years. Desrious at that time of changing 
his occupation he bought the Spring Hill 
House, which he managed for two years; 
then renting that hotel he moved to Erie, 
where for a year and a half he had charge 
of the St. Nicholas Hotel and restaurant. 
Selling out his interests there in 1893, at 
public sale, he returned to Spring Hill, and 
at once embarked in the mercantile business. 
Commencing on a modest scale, he bought 
at first a small stock of goods, and from 
time to time, as the trade demanded and 
his means allowed, he replenished his stock, 
and added new lines of goods, until now he 
has one of the largest and most complete 
assortments of general merchandise to be 
found in the county, including staple and 
fancy groceries, dry goods, hardware, wag- 
ons, buggies, farming implements, machin- 
ery, etc. 

On July 19, 1877, Mr. Timmerman 



married Miss Mary Talcott, who was born, 
bred and educated in Henry county, where 
previous to her marriage, and during the 
time that Mr. Timmerman was in California, 
she was a successful teacher in the public 
schools. Their union has been blessed by 
the birth of two children, namely: Craig, 
a clerk in his father's store; and Bernice, at 
home. In politics Mr. Timmerman is an 
earnest supporter of the principles promul- 
gated by the Democratic party, and with 
the exception of the year that he cast his 
presidential ballot for Peter Cooper, has 
voted for the Democratic nominee. He 
takes a genuine interest in town and county 
affairs, and for two years served as township 
clerk, and five years on the board of edu- 
cation. Fraternally, he is a member of 
Prophetstown lodge. No. 508, I. O. O. F., 
and of Brooks camp, M. W. A., of Spring 
Hill, in which he has been clerk ten years. 
Both he and Mrs. Timmerman are members 
of the Methodist Episcopal church. 



HON. TYLER McWHORTER. There 
are in every community men of great 
force of character and exceptional ability, 
who by reason of their capacity for leader- 
ship become recognized as foremost citizens 
and bear a most important part in the de- 
velopment and progress of the locality with 
which they are connected. Such a man 
was Mr. McWhorter, who was a prominent 
farmer of Montmorency township. 

He was born in Metamora, Franklin 
county, Indiana, June 11, 1825, and was a 
son of John and Mary (Lynn) McWhorter, 
the former a native of Pennsylvania, the lat- 
ter of West Virginia. He was a descendant 
of Thomas McWhorter, who emigrated to this 
country prior to the French and Indian war 




HON. TYLER McWHORTER. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



291 



and settled in New Jersey. He has three 
children, Gilbert, Hugh and Mar}-. • Hugh 
McWhorter married Keziah Tyler, and to 
them were born six children, of whom Tyler 
was the grandfather of our subject. After 
his marriage he removed to Indiana, where 
he spent his last days. The father of our 
subject was a successful agriculturist who 
owned and operated a farm on the outskirts 
of Metamora, Franklin county, Indiana. 
In his family were nine children, of whom 
three died in childhood, the others being 
Tyler, Rebecca, Lynn, Keziah, John and 
Henry. The last named was a soldier of 
the Civil war and died in New Orleans. 

During his boyhood Tyler McWhorter, 
of this sketch, pursued his studies in a log 
school house of his native county, and his 
father being a teacher, assisted him in ac- 
(juiring a good practical education which 
well fitted him for life's responsible duties. 
He remained at home until his marriage, 
which was celebrated November 28, 1849, 
Miss Rhoda A. Ward becoming his wife. 
She was born near Cincinnati, Ohio, and is 
a daughter of Eliasand Rhoda (Miller) Ward, 
natives of New Jersey. Her maternal 
grandfather was Major Luke Miller, who 
served with distinction as an officer in the 
Revolutionary war. He spent his entire 
life in Madison, New Jersey, dying in the 
house where he was born. ]>y occupation 
he was a farmer and blacksmith. In his 
family were eight children, two sons and 
six daughters. Mrs. McWhorter's paternal 
grandfather was Israel Ward, also a native 
of New Jersey and a farmer by occupation. 
In 181 1, accompanied by his family, he re- 
moved to Hamilton county, Ohio, where he 
bought land for himself and sons. He, 
too, had a family of eight children, six sons 
and two daughters. 



Elias Ward, the father of Mrs. Mc- 
Whorter, was a soldier of the war of 18 12, 
and for his services he received a land war- 
rant. For a number of years he followed 
the carriage trimmer's trade in Cincinnati, 
but finally selling his farm in Ohio, he 
moved to Franklin county, Indiana, where 
he lived until a few years before his death, 
when became to Whiteside county, Illinois, 
to make his home with Mr. and Mrs. Mc- 
W'horter and some of his other children. 
Here he died September 6, 1 870. He was an 
active worker in the Methodist church, and 
secured the first circuit preacher in Franklin 
county, Indiana, at the same time opening 
his house for services. His estimable wife 
died October 10, 1868. To them were born 
twelve children, all of whom reached man 
and womanhood with the exception of one 
son, Elias, who died in infancy. The others 
were George, Hettie, Robert, Ellis, Luke, 
Mary, Israel, James, Rhoda, John and 
Lewis B. Of this family only two are now 
living, Mrs. McWhorter and Lewis B. Ward, 
a farmer of Harmon township, Lee county, 
Illinois. 

After his marriage, Mr. McWhorter con- 
cluded to come west, but it was not until 
1865 that he started for this county. He 
made the journey by team, bringing his 
household goods with him, and then re- 
turned for his wife and three little children. 
This time they traveled by railroad to Dixon 
and from there by team to Sterling. They 
located in Montmorency township, where 
Mr. McWhorter first bought two hundred 
acres of land, and by subsequent purchase 
he increased his landed possessions until at 
the time of his death he had three hundred 
and sixty acres of land in Whiteside county 
and a quarter section of land just across the 
road from his home, in Lee county. He 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



gave his attention principally to stock 
raising. 

To Mr. and Mrs. McWhorter were born 
seven children, namely: Mary M. is now 
the wife of John Jamison, of Kossuth coun- 
ty, Iowa, and they have three children; 
Ellis, a farmer of Iowa, married Emma 
Seely, and they have four children; Anna 
IS the wife of Edgar Woods, of Montmo- 
rency township, Whiteside county, and they 
have seven children; John E., a resident of 
Kossuth county, Iowa, married Carrie 
Colder, and they have four children; Will- 
iam L. , of Montmorency township, married 
Belle Beal, and they have one child; Char- 
lotte L. is the wife of Fred Buell, of Proph- 
etstown, and they have two children; and 
Leroy S., a farmer of Kossuth county, 
Iowa, married Ethel Barrett, and they have 
one child. 

On the 5th of May, 1889, Mr. McWhor- 
ter departed this life, after a lingering ill- 
ness of about a year, and was laid to rest 
in a cemetery in Montmorency township. 
He was a prominent and active member of 
the Methodist Episcopal church in that 
township, and aided in the erection of the 
house of worship there. He was a recog- 
nized leader in the ranks of the local Repub- 
lican organization, and was elected to 
numerous township offices of honor and 
trust, serving as supervisor nine years and 
school director fifteen years. He was in- 
strumental in securing one of the first schools 
in Montmorency township. In 1874 he was 
elected to the state legislature by a large 
majority and became a prominent member 
of the twenty-ninth general Assembly, where 
he ably represented his district. Through- 
out his career of continued and far-reaching 
usefulness his duties were performed with 
the greatest care, and during a long life his 



personal honor and integrity were without 
blemish. Since 1890 Mrs. McWhorter has 
been a resident of Sterling. She, too, is a 
faithful and consistent member of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal church, and is highly re- 
spected by all who know her. 



LLOYD H. DILLON, deceased, was for 
many years one of the leading business 
men of Sterling, Illinois, a member of the 
Dillon Milling Company, which still bears 
his name. He won success by his well-di- 
rected, energetic efforts, and the prosperity 
that came to him was certainly well deserved. 

Mr. Dillon was born in Zanesville, Ohio, 
December 10, 1839, a son of Lloyd and 
Margaret (Culbertson) Dillon, also natives 
of Zanesville. His paternal grandparents, 
John and Edith Dillon, removed to that 
state from Maryland at an early day and 
took up their residence in Zanesville, where 
the grandfather became quite a successful 
manufacturer and prominent citizen. There 
both he and his wife died. Lloyd Dillon, 
Sr. , was in business with his father in 
Zanesville for many years and he, too, be- 
came very prosperous and influential. His 
entire life was passed in Ohio. (Further 
mention is made of the family in the sketch 
of Moses Dillon on another page ol the vol- 
ume.) 

The subject of this sketch was only 
seven years old when his father died, after 
which he made his home with an aunt in 
Ohio for a few years, while he attended the 
common schools of Zanesville. At the age 
of fourteen he came west to make his home 
with his cousin, Charles Dillon, in Iowa 
City, Iowa, and after living with him for a 
short time commenced work for his cousin's 
father-in-law, a Mr. Foster. Here he be- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



293 



came familiar with agricultural pursuits, and 
was thus employed until the breaking out 
of the Civil war. 

Hardly had the echoes from Fort Sum- 
ter's guns died away before Mr. Dillon 
offered his services to the government, en- 
listing April 18, 1861, in the First Iowa In- 
fantry, which was mustered into the United 
States service at Keokuk, May 14, 1861. 
He had previously made up his mind to 
enter the service, if war was declared, hop- 
ing in that way to abolish some of the slave 
laws which then existed. Once, while 
plowing in the field, he was interrupted by 
three men who were hunting a negro fugi- 
tive, and they tried to make him tell where 
the man was. This he could not or would 
not do, but was compelled to assist in the 
hunt, as they told him he was liable to ar- 
rest if he knew anything of the negro's 
whereabouts. He afterward looked up the 
law on the subject and, finding it to be cor- 
rect, he determined to be one to help to 
abolish it. Accordingly, he was one of the 
first to enlist from Iowa at the outbreak of 
the war. He was wounded in the leg at 
Wilson's Creek, Missouri, August 10, i86r, 
and was discharged from the service on the 
25th of that month. Here-enlisted at Iowa 
City, January 10, 1862, in the Fourth Iowa 
Cavalry, and was made sergeant of his com- 
pany, September 15, 1862; second lieuten- 
ant, February 1, 1863, and captain of Com- 
pany I, May 15, 1865. He was quite se- 
verely wounded in the left breast at Gun- 
town, Mississippi, June 10, 1864. The war 
being over and his services no longer needed, 
he was finally mustered out at Atlanta, 
Georgia, August 8, 1865. On his return to 
civil life he resumed farming in Iowa. 

On the 28th of September, 1865, in 
Peoria, Illinois, Mr. Dillon was united in 



marriage with Miss Ruth E. Rees, a native 
of Berkley county, Virginia, and a daughter 
of Jacob and Thamasin (Lupton) Rees. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Dillon were born eight chil- 
dren, four of whom are nOw living. 

After his marriage Mr. Dillon engaged 
in farming on rented land in Iowa until 
1872, when he came to Sterling, Illinois, 
and immediately embarked in milling with 
Samuel Kingery, who later sold his interest, 
and M. C. Bowers became a member of the 
firm. Subsequently J. T. Strock was a 
member of the company, but finally with- 
drew, and in 1891 Mr. Dillon had the busi- 
ness incorporated as the Dillon Milling Com- 
pany, which name it now bears. He was 
a large stockholder and treasurer of the 
company at the time of his death, which 
occurred June 18, 1898. He was buried 
with military honors by William Robinson 
post, G. A. R., and laid to rest in Riverside 
cemetery, Sterling. He was also a mem- 
ber of the Modern Woodmen of America 
and other fraternal orders, and was a sup- 
porter of the Republican party. He was a 
quiet, unassuming man, whose word was 
considered as good as his bond, and was a 
devoted Christian and faithful member of 
the Presbyterian church. As a citizen he 
was always true to every trust reposed in 
him, and it is safe to say that no man 
in the community was more respected or 
honored. 



ISAAC FRANCIS, deceased, was an en- 
terprising farmer and stock raiser of 
Prophetstown township, who located there 
in 1869, at which time he was possessed of 
but little means, but having a' determina- 
tion to succeed, did succeed, becoming the 
owner of a well-stocked farm of two hun- 



294 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



dred and forty acres, and surrounded by 
such evidences of thrift as mal<es the heart 
glad. He was born in Lincolnshire, Eng- 
land, December 22,- 1 S47, and a son of John 
Francis, also a native of the same shire. 

The first seventeen years of the life of 
our subject were spent in his native land, 
where he received a common-school educa- 
tion. With the earnest desire to better 
himself in life, and hearing of the oppor- 
tunities afforded the enterprising person in 
the United States, he resolved to make this 
his home. Accordingly, in 1864, he crossed 
the Atlantic, and for five years was engaged 
in farm labor in Moorestown, New Jersey. 
He was there married March 11, 1869, to 
Miss Anna Thompson, who was born in 
Mount Laurel, New Jersey, and a daughter 
of Pemberton Thompson, also a native of 
that state, who there married Margaret 
Dobins. He was a mason by trade, an oc- 
cupation that he followed during life. He 
never came west, but lived and died in his 
native state. 

Soon after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. 
Francis came to Whiteside county, where 
the latter had then two sisters living — Mrs. 
Edward Lancaster and Mrs. Henry Clark — 
both of whom had settled here a few years 
previously. On their arrival Mr. Francis 
rented a farm and engaged in farming. He 
continued to rent for seven years, in the 
meantime lading by each year a little 
money. He then purchased the farm where 
the family now resides, a tract of two hun- 
dred and forty acres, fairly well improved. 
On taking possession, he at once com- 
menced its further improvement, and as the 
years went by he erected new buildings, in- 
cluding a large barn and various outbuild- 
ings, which have added greatly to the appear- 
ance of the place as well as to its value. 



In addition to general farming, Mr. 
Francis gave much attention to stock rais- 
ing, especially in the later years. Short 
horn cattle was his specialty, and he al- 
ways endeavored to procure stock of a high 
grade, blooded animals, and at the time of 
his death had a herd of about fifty head, 
Cruikshank, a full blooded animal, being at 
the head of the herd. His success in this 
branch of his business was such as to bring 
him into prominence as a stock raiser, and 
his judgment of the value and grade of 
stock was second to none. As a general 
farmer, he was also a success, his place al- 
ways being kept under a high state of culti- 
vation. 

Mr. Francis had a love for his calling 
and gave it his undivided attention. He 
neither sought or desired office, and was 
only prevailed on to accept one official posi- 
tion, that of road commissioner, an office 
which he held for several years. In poli- 
tics he was originally a Republican, but of 
late years he affiliated with the Democratic 
party. Fraternally he was a Master Mason, 
holding his membership with the Blue lodge 
in Prophetstown. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Francis seven children 
were born, of whom Laura is now the wife 
of Frank Lancaster, a farmer of Prophets- 
town township; Jennie, a young lady, re- 
sides at home; George is married and is 
residing in the city of Prophetstown; Will- 
iam, a young man, is at home, and is as- 
sisting in carrying on the home farm; John, 
Edward and Bertha are also at home. 

Mr. Francis was always an active, as 
well as an enterprising man, and continued 
to be actively engaged until his last sick- 
ness, which terminated in his death, March 
18, 1889. He was buried in the cemetery 
at Prophetstown with Masonic honors. A 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



295 



resident of the county for thirty years, he 
had formed an extensive acquaintance, and 
wherever known he was greatly esteemed. 
A man of exemplary habits and sterling 
worth, it is not to be wondered that his 
friends were many in Whiteside and adjoin- 
ing counties. Since his death, Mrs. Fran- 
cis, with the aid of her children, has carried 
on the home farm. She is a woman of 
good business ability, and to her aid and 
wise counsel much of the success attending 
her husband in life is due. 



WILLIAM G. RIORDAN, a well-known 
and highly esteemed citizen of Ful- 
ton, has attained a high position in the lit- 
erary world as the publisher of Legal Topics, 
a journal devoted to legal matters and cur- 
rent events of the day, it being a popular 
review of events and topics. It was found- 
ed by Dyson Rishell, LL. D., who con- 
tinued its publication until June, 1898. 
One month later Mr. Riordan assumed the 
charge of it, and has given great satisfac- 
tion to the number of subscribers in Illi- 
nois, Indiana, Iowa, and other states of the 
Union. It is a bright, well-edited paper, 
handling in an able manner all current top- 
ics of interest to the general public, and to 
the legal profession in particular. 

Mr. Riordan was born in 1874, in New- 
ton township, Whiteside county, Illinois, a 
son of D. A. and Ellen (Kain) Riordan. 
His father was a Vermont man by birth, 
and a resident of that state until 1855, when 
he emigrated to Whiteside county, Illinois, 
where he has since been actively engaged 
in tilling the soil. He is inlluential in town- 
ship affairs, and has served in many public 
offices in Newton. He has reared nine 
children, all of whom reside in Whiteside 



county with the exception of George, who 
is living in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 

William G. Riordan was reared on the 
home farm, receiving his preliminary edu- 
cation in the common schools of Newton, 
and afterwards attending the Northern Illi- 
nois Normal School, at Dixon, for two years. 
At the age of eighteen years, he began 
teaching, and four years taught in the dis- 
trict schools of this county. For a brief 
time he read law with Hon. J. G. Monohan, 
of Sterling, Illinois, but changing his plans 
never took up the profession. He began 
his literary career by work on the Dixon 
Daily Star, with which he was connected 
three months. In August, 1893, he took 
charge of the Fulton Journal as editor 
and general manager, continuing in that 
position until September, 1898, managing 
both that and Legal Topics two 
months. In his political affiliations he has 
always been an active Democrat, high in 
local councils, and since 1898 has served 
as secretary of the Democratic central 
committee. In the spring of 1899 he was 
elected city clerk, an office he is at present 
filling. Fraternally he is a member, and 
past chancellor, of Sunlight lodge, No. 
239, K. of P. ; and is a member of Forest 
camp, No. 2, M. W. of A. At the time of 
the contest over the removal of the head- 
quarters of the Woodmen, Mr. Riordan acted 
the part of Paul Revere, of Revolutionary 
fame. When the first posse arrived from 
Rock Island to take forcible possession of 
the property and papers, he was returning 
from a party, about ten o'clock, and met 
them. Recognizing the leaders, and realiz- 
ing their purpose, he went from house to 
house, awakened the citizens, rung the 
fire bell, and aroused the fire com- 
pany, who brought out their hose and 



296 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



sprinkled them. One of the claims made 
by the Rock Island people for the removal 
was the insecurity of the records, as Ful- 
ton had not an efficient fire department. 
The fire company demonstrated its efficiency 
that night in a manner that even Rock Isl- 
and could not dispute. By this act Mr. 
Riordan received the sobriquet of "Paul 
Revere." 

On October 27, 1898, Mr. Riordan 
married Miss Belle Harrison, of Fulton. 



EDGAR G. BAUM is a well-known capi- 
talist, loan, real estate and insurance 
agent of Morrison Illinois. Greater fortunes 
have been accumulated, but few lives furnish 
so striking an example of the wise application 
of sound principles and safe conservatism 
as does his. The story of his success is 
short and simple, containing no exciting 
chapters, but in it lies one of the most val- 
uable secrets of the prosperity which it re- 
cords, and his business and private life are 
pregnant with interest and incentive, no 
matter how lacking in dramatic action. 

Mr. Baum was born in Le Ray town- 
ship, Jefferson county. New York, April 29, 
1840, a soil of Absalom and Anna (Iveller) 
Baum. The father was a native of Herki- 
mer county, New York, and a son of Jacob 
and Betsey Baum. Our subject's great- 
grandfather was a native of Germany and 
an early settler of the Mohawk Valley, New 
York. The grandfather served as a soldier 
in the wer of 18 r 2 and in early life followed 
farming in the Mohawk Valley, but later, 
with his six sons, he removed to Jefferson 
county. New York, becoming one of the 
pioneer settlers of Pamelia Four Corners 
where he purchased a large tract of wild 
land and there made his home until his 



death. He was quite a prominent and in- 
fluential man of his community and was 
honored with different local offices. He 
died at the age of eighty-four years, his wife 
at the age of eighty-three. 

Absalom Baum, father of our subject, 
was reared and educated in Jefferson coun- 
ty, where he married Anna Iveller, a daugh- 
ter of Jacob Keller, who was also of Ger- 
man ancestry, and who had also served his 
country in the war of 1812. 

After his marriage Absalom Baum pur- 
chased a farm in LeRay township, Jeffer- 
son county, on which he made his home 
throughout the remainder of his life. He 
was prominently identified with military af- 
fairs, and was captain of a company in the 
state militia until it was disbanded on ac- 
count of a change in laws, being always 
known as Captain Baum. He served as as- 
sessor of his township for a number of years; 
was first a Whig in politics and later a Re- 
publican; and was a Universalist in relig- 
ious belief, while his estimable wife was a 
member of the Methodist Episcopal church. 
He died in 1879, at the age of sixty-nine, 
and she passed away in 1878 at the age of 
fifty-eight years. 

Edgar G. Baum, their oldest son, at- 
tended the common schools at his home and 
later attended the high school at Theresa 
Falls. After finishing the course of studies 
here he engaged in teaching school during 
the winter months, in Watertown and in 
the district schools for twelve years, work- 
on his father's farm during the summer. He 
first came west in 1864 and taught school 
in Henry county, Illinois, returning to New 
York the next year. 

In 1867 he again came west, taking up 
his residence at Sterling, this county, hav- 
ing secured the agency for the American 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



297 



Fire Insurance Company, of Chicago. 
Reaching Sterling on Friday, he went to a 
hotel to remain until the beginning of the 
week, and after paying his bill on Monday 
morning he started on his first canvassing 
tour among the fanners with twenty-five 
cents as his. sole assets. 

During the next year he walked all over 
Whiteside and much of Henry counties, so- 
liciting insurance from the farmers with 
great success. He continued canvassing 
afoot until he was able to buy and pay for 
a horse and buggy in cash, and for twenty 
years he represented the same company, 
doing business in five counties, meeting 
with excellent success, advancing not only 
the company's interest but his own. 

On severing his connection with the 
company in 1887 he embarked in the insur- 
ance, loan, and real estate business in Ster- 
ling, and met with most excellent success 
in his new undertaking. He became a 
stockholder in the Sterling National Bank 
and still holds that position. 

In 1889 he came to Morrison and is en- 
gaged in the same business here. He is 
also a stockholder in the First National 
Bank here and owns a number of fine 
farriis in Whiteside county, besides valu- 
able city property and land in Kansas and 
Iowa. 

Mr. Baum was married in Chicago Sep- 
tember 22, 1880, to Mrs. Mary Boydston 
Jennings, whose early life was spent in War- 
saw, Indiana. She is a daughter of the 
late William Boydston, a retired farmer and 
merchant of that place. By her first mar- 
riage she had two children, Henry B. Jen- 
nings, a physician of Council Bluffs, Iowa, 
and Maude Luella, who upon her mother's 
marriage to Mr. Baum became his adopted 
daughter. 



Mrs. Baum is a member of the Presby- 
terian church and a most estimable lad}-. 

Politically Mr. Baum supports the Re- 
publican party, but he has never been an 
aspirant for office. He was made a Mason 
at Geneseo, Henry county, Illinois, and 
still holds membership in Stewart lodge, 
No. 92, A. F. & A. M., at that place. The 
success that he has achieved in life is due 
entirely to his own well-directed and ener- 
getic efforts and his career has been such as 
to command the respect and confidence of 
all with whom he has been brought in con- 
tact. 



JAMES WICKENS, whose home is on 
section 24, Tampico township, two 
miles and a half southeast of the village of 
Tampico, was formerly one of the most active 
and enterprising agriculturists of Whiteside 
county and enjoyed more than ordinary suc- 
cess, but he is now living retired from active 
labor in the enjoyment of all the comforts 
and many of the luxuries of life. 

Mr. Wickens was born in Sussexshire, 
England, August 13, 1829, a son of Samuel 
and Elizabeth (Turner) Wickens, who spent 
their entire lives in Sussexshire, the father 
being engaged in farming. In their family 
were three children, namely: William, still 
a resident of England; Anna, who married 
James Adams and came to La Salle county, 
Illinois, but later moved to Australia; and 
James, our subject. 

Mr. Wickens acquired rather a limited 
education in the schools of his native land. 
He learned the wheelwright's trade and 
worked at the same in his nati\e land for 
six years. It was in 1850 that he emigrated 
to the United States, taking passage on a 
sailing vessel, the Columbus, which was six 



298 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



weeks in crossing from London to New 
York. He spent one season working at the 
carpenter's and joiner's trade, in Ohio, and 
in the fall of 1850 went to Chicago, which 
at that time was a small village and very 
muddy, there seeming to be no bottom to 
the streets. Mr. Wickens located in Ken- 
dall county, Illinois, where he spent ten 
years, working at the carpenter's trade or 
anything which he could find to do. Com- 
ing to Whiteside county, in 1861, he pur- 
chased eighty acres of land in partnership 
with his brother-in-law, and located there- 
on, but in connection with its operation he 
continued to work at the carpenter's trade 
for three years. He then sold out and in 
1864 bought eighty acres where he now 
resides, a part of which was broken at that 
time. He built a comfortable home, and 
to the further improvement and cultivation 
of this place he devoted his time and atten- 
tion for many years. He added to his land 
from time to time until he had three hun- 
dred and forty acres in the home place and 
eighty acres near Sterling. He has set out 
fruit and shade trees, and has erected three 
sets of good farm buildings, all of which he 
keeps in first-class order, and now has one 
of the best improved farms in Tampico 
township. 

In Kendall county, Mr. Wickens was 
married, in 1854, to Miss Elizabeth Cork, 
also a native of Sussexshire, England, and 
a daughter of James Cork, one of the early 
settlers of Kendall county, where he entered 
government land. Mrs. Wickens was reared 
and educated in that county. The children 
born to our subject and his wife are as fol- 
lows: Nelson, now a farmer of Sheridan 
county, Nebraska; Walter, who is married 
and engaged in farming in this county; 
George, a ranchman of South Dakota; Sam- 



uel, who is married and engaged in business 
in Sterling; Thomas, who is married and 
follows farming on part of the home farm; 
Owen, who is married and follows farming 
at Harmon, Illinois; Oscar, a resident of 
Iowa; Jesse, at home; and Laura and Rose, 
who both died when young ladies. 

Mr. Wickens was formerly a Republican 
in politics and cast his first presidential vote 
for Abraham Lincoln, in 1864, but now 
votes independent of party lines. He 
served one term as commissioner of high- 
ways, was a member of the school board 
sixteen years, and president of the district. 
In 1888 he returned to England and spent 
six weeks in Sussexshire and London, and 
had a very enjoyable visit, though he found 
few of his old friends and acquaintances 
left. He has never regreted his emigration 
to America, for here he has prospered, be- 
coming the possessor of a comfortable com- 
petence, which enables him in his declining 
years to lay aside all business cares and live 
in ease and retirement, surrounded by a 
host of warm friends who appreciate his 
sterling worth and many excellencies of 
character. 



DYSON RISHELL, LL. D. It is not 
an easy task to describe adequately a 
man who has led an eminently active and 
busy life and who has attained to a position 
of high relative distinction in the more im- 
portant and exacting fields of human en- 
deavor. But biography finds its most per- 
fect justification, nevertheless, in the tracing 
and recording of such a life history. It is, 
then, with a full appreciation of all that is 
demanded, and of the painstaking scrutiny 
that must be accorded each statement, and 
yet with a feeling of significant satisfaction, 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



299 



that the writer essays the task of touching 
briefly upon the details of such a record as 
has been the voice of the character of the 
honored subject whose life now comes under 
review. 

Professor Dyson Risheli, who occupies 
the chair of law in the Northern Illinois 
College, and is also a lecturer of high repute, 
was born in Hughesville, Lycoming county, 
Pennsylvania, November 11, 1858, and is a 
son of Peter R. and Matilda (Robbins) 
Risheli, both of whom were natives of the 
Keystone state. The father was an agri- 
culturist of Lycoming county and died in 
1883, while his wife departed this life in 
1867. The paternal grandfather, Jacob 
Risheli. was likewise a native of Pennsyl- 
vania and followed farming there, while his 
father; Captain George Risheli, was one of 
the valiant soldiers of the Revolution, com- 
manding a company in the struggle which 
brought liberty to the colonies. 

Upon his father's farm Professor Risheli 
spent his early boyhood days, acquiring his 
preliminary education in the common 
schools. Subsequently he attended and was 
graduated in the Central State Normal 
School, in Lockhaven, Pennsylvania, after 
which he devoted two years to the study of 
the classics under the direction of Dr. 
Vrooman, of Pennsylvania. On the expira- 
tion of that period he entered the law office 
of Hall & McCauley, of Ridgway, Pennsyl- 
vania, one of the most prominent law firms 
of the state, the senior member being the 
Hon. J. G. Hall. For three years he con- 
tinued his studies there, gaining a wide and 
accurate knowledge of the principles of 
jurisprudence, and after his admission to the 
bar he opened an office in Ridgway, where 
he formed a partnership with N. T. Arnold. 
This connection continued for six years, after 

17 



which Professor Rishall turned his atten- 
tion to literary and journalistic work. He 
is a man of decided literary taste, of scholar- 
ly attainments, and strong mentality, and in 
his new field of labor met with success. He 
purchased the Ridgway Advocate, which he 
published for several years, and during that 
time he was a candidate on the Republican 
ticket for district attorney. His personal 
popularity and the confidence reposed in 
him was indicated by the fact that he 
reduced the usual Democratic majority from 
si.x hundred to two hundred. In 1888 he 
sold the Advocate and on account of im- 
paired health was not actively connected 
with business interests for several years 
thereafter. 

In 1893 Professor Risheli came to White- 
side county, and accepted the position of 
principal of the public schools of Erie, where 
he remained for two years. In 1896 he ac- 
cepted the chair of law in the Northern 
Illinois College, and has since occupied that 
place. He is very clear and concise in his 
instruction, and imparts readily to others 
the knowledge he has acquired, and which 
is of superior order. In June, 1898, he 
was largely instrumental in establishing the 
Legal Topics, a popular review of events, of 
which he was editor for more than a year. 
For ten years past he has been connected 
with the lecture platform and his addresses 
are at once instructive and entertaining. 
The substrata of thought is adorned by the 
graces of rhetoric, and added to this is a 
pleasing delivery which makes him a popu- 
lar orator. Among his most popular lect- 
ures are " How to Say Things, " and " The 
Cross and the Crescent." 

On the 22d of June, 1898, Professor 
Risheli was married in Morrison, Illinois, to 
Addie G. Marshall, daughter of M. M. and 



300 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Enieline (Owen) Marshall, and a native of 
the city in which the wedding was celebrated. 
They now have one son, Edwin. In politics 
Professor Rishell is a Republican, and fra- 
ternally is a Master Mason. He belongs to 
the Methodist Episcopal church of Fulton, 
and takes a deep interest in everything cal- 
culated to advanced the welfare of humanity. 
The cause of education finds in him a warm 
friend and he has done effective service in 
behalf of the public schools of Whiteside 
county, one of his labors being the prepara- 
tion of the notes of reference on the im- 
proved and systematic literary work for the 
graded schools of the county. At this point 
it would be almost tautological to enter into 
any series of statements as showing our 
subject to be a man of broad intelligence 
and genuine public spirit for these have been 
shadowed forth between the lines of the 
review. Strong in his individuality, he never 
lacks the courage of his convictions, but there 
are as dominating elements in this individ- 
uality a lively human sympathy and an abid- 
ing charity, which, as taken in connection 
with the sterlmg integrity and honor of his 
character, have naturally gained to him the 
respect and confidence of men. 



THOMAS A. DRAIN is a worthy repre- 
sentative of the agricultural interests of 
Prophetstown township, his home being on 
section 33. Coming to this state in 1832, 
he has watched the development of its re- 
sources with the interest which every intel- 
ligent man feels in regard to the section of 
the country where he has spent the best 
years of his life and should feel a satisfac- 
tion in the thought that he has been no un- 
important factor in bringing it to its present 



condition. He e.xperienced all the trials 
and difficulties of frontier life, but is now 
enjoying the reward of his labors and strug- 
gles in the possession of a fine homestead 
of one hundred and twenty-one acres. 

Mr. Drain was born in Washington 
county, Iventucky, November 20, 1830, and 
is a grandson of one of the pioneers of that 
county, William Drain, a native of Eng- 
land. There his. father, Joseph Drain, was 
born and remained, and there married Julia 
Walker, a native of Virginia and a daugh- 
ter of George Walker, one of the first set- 
tlers of Washington county, Kentucky, from 
the Old Dominion. In 1832, with his fam- 
ily, Joseph Drain removed to McDonough 
county, Illinois, which at that time was 
very sparsely settled, there being but thirty- 
five votes polled in the county that year. 
He took a claim and opened up a farm, but 
in 1847 came to Whiteside county, locating 
on land adjoining our subject's present farm. 
Here he remained until called from this 
life in the fall of 1892, at the age of eighty- 
one years. His wife died the following year 
at the age of eighty-five. 

Thomas A. Drain was a lad of seven- 
teen years when he came with his parents 
to this county, and he assisted in the ardu- 
ous task of converting the wild land into 
well-tilled fields, remaining under the pa- 
rental roof until reaching manhood. As 
soon as old enough he pre-empted forty 
acres of land adjoining his father's farm, 
and later entered it. Subsequently he pur- 
chased two forty-acre tracts adjoining his 
land, and with one acre obtained from his 
father's farm, he now has a place of one 
hundred and twenty-one acres, which he 
has placed under a high state of cultivation 
and improved with good buildings, fences, 
ditches, and fruit and forest trees. In early 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



301 



days the family did their trading in Peru, 
but as time has advanced ail of the com- 
forts to their door, and their nearest market 
is now only a few miles distant. 

Mr. Drain was married in Iowa in 1859, 
to Miss Anna A. Leavenworth, who was 
born and reared in Vermont and came west 
in 1857. In the spring of 1859 she went to 
Winneshiek county, Iowa, where their mar- 
riage was celebrated. After a happy mar- 
ried life of almost forty years, she died July 
17, 1898, and was laid to rest in Leon 
cemetery. To Mr. and Mrs. Drain were 
born six children, namely: Herbert L. , of 
Prophetstown, is married and has two chil- 
dren, Raymond and Alfred M. ; Julia is the 
wife of William Eldridge and they have two 
children, Neva and Harold; Carrie is the 
wife of Alfred Matthews, a farmer of Proph- 
etstown township; Matie is the wife of 
George Wolf, a farmer of Henry county, 
Illinois, and they have two children, Emory, 
deceased, and Willard, living; Gracie and 
Sadie are at home with their father. 

In early life Mr. Drain became identi- 
fied with the Democratic party, but at the 
last election voted the Prohibition ticket. 
He has never sought or cared for official 
honors, but as a friend of our public 
schools he has done effective work as a 
member of the school board for some years. 
He is one of the original members of the 
Leon Methodist Episcopal church, to which 
his children also belong, and he contributed 
liberally toward the erection of the house 
of worship. For thirty-five years he has 
been a member of Prophetstown lodge, F. 
& A. M. He is widely known and highly 
respected, and the fact that those who 
know him best are numbered among his 
warmest friends, testifies to the honorable, 
upright life he has led. 



DAVID M. CRAWFORD, deceased, was 
for many years prominently identified 
with the business interests of Sterling. In 
business affairs, he was energetic, prompt 
and notably reliable, and his career proves 
that the only true success in life is that 
which is accomplished by personal effort 
and consecutive industry. 

Mr. Crawford was born in Lancaster 
county, Pennsylvania, April 5, 1830, a son 
of Thomas and Letitia (Buyers) Crawford, 
also natives of Pennsylvania. His great- 
grandfather, James Crawford, served with 
distinction as colonel of a Pennsylvania reg- 
iment during the Revolutionary war. His 
maternal great-grandfather, David Buyers 
was captain of a company in the same regi- 
ment. Thomas Crawford, the father of 
our subject, engaged in the hotel business in 
Georgetown, District of Columbia, for a 
number of years, and later removed to 
Pennsylvania, but his last days were spent 
in retirement in Sterling, Illinois, where his 
death occurred. His wife had died in 
Pennsylvania prior to his coming west. 
They were the parents of seven children 
who reached years of maturity, namely: 
James L. , Thomas M., John B., Anna M., 
Robert A., David M., and Sarah E. Of 
these three are still living: Thomas M., a 
resident of York county, Pennsylvania; 
John B. , of Lohrville, Calhoun county, 
Iowa; and Sarah E., wife of Rev. Calvin 
E. Stewart, of New York City. 

During his boyhood and youth the sub- 
ject of this sketch attended first the public 
schools and later Lititz Academy of Lan- 
caster county, Pennsylvania. After com- 
pleting his education he went to Philadel- 
phia, where for three years he was employed 
by the firm of Fithian, Jones & Company, 
wholesale dry-goods merchants. At the 



302 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



end of that time, in the spring of 1850, he 
came to Sterling, lUinois, and entered the 
retail dry-goods store of Gait & Crawford 
as clerk, remaining with them for a number 
of years, first as a clerk and afterwards as 
a partner. Later he and T. A. Gait em- 
barked in the hardware business, but at the 
end of three years our subject sold his in- 
terest and again turned his attention to the 
dry-goods trade with his brother James as 
a partner. They engaged in business under 
the firm name of D. M. Crawford & Com- 
pany, and this partnership continued up to 
the time of the brother's death, after which 
our subject was alone in business for a 
number of years. Subsequently at different 
times he was connected with James A. Gait, 
Diller Davis and Henry Weber, and suc- 
cessfully carried on a large general store, 
with whom he continued his connection 
until he, too, was called to his final rest. 

On the 22nd of September, 1858, Mr. 
Crawford was united in marriage with Miss 
Maria L. Gait, who was also born in Lan- 
caster county, Pennsylvania, November 23, 
1838. Her parents, John and Sarah M. 
(Buyers) Gait, were natives of the same 
state, the former born May 3, 1801, the lat- 
ter August 14, 1805. Her paternal grand- 
father, James Gait, of Lancaster county, 
was of Scotch-Irish extraction and was de- 
scended from Thomas and Isabella Gait, 
who came to this country in the early part 
of the seventeenth century. James Gait 
wedded Mary Martin, who had two mater- 
nal uncles who took an active part in the 
early Indian wars. One of these, Matthew 
Henry, was captured and tortured for two 
days before deatfi came to his relief. Mrs. 
Crawford's paternal grandfather, James 
Gait, was the owner of large tracts of farm- 
ing land in Pennsylvania and also owned a 



mill and general store. In that state her 
father, John Gait, also followed the occupa- 
tions of milling, farming and general mer- 
chandising until 1844, when became west 
and took up his residence in Sterling, Illi- 
nois, where he immediately opened a gen- 
eral store, which he conducted alone for a 
time but later took in James Crawford as a 
partner and then turned his attention to his 
farming interests. On coming to the county 
he had taken up considerable land in Hop- 
kins township, where he spent his remain- 
ing days engaged in agricultural pursuits. 
He founded the town of Gait upon his land. 
He died in 1866, at the age of si.xty-five 
years, and his wife passed away October 25, 
1898, at the advanced age of ninety- three. 
To this worthy couple were born thirteen 
children, namely: James wedded Mary Cul- 
ver, but both are now deceased. (More ex- 
tended mention is made of them in connec- 
tion with the sketch of Edgar H. Gait on 
another page of this volume.) Mary mar- 
ried James A. Gait and both are also de- 
ceased. Robert A. died unmarried. Thomas, 
who was a physician of Rock Island, married 
Rebecca Patterson and is now deceased, but 
his widow is still living in Sterling. Eliza- 
beth and John B. are also residents of Ster- 
ling. Alexander is deceased. Maria L. is 
the widow of our subject. Josephine, un- 
married, makes her home in Sterling. 
Frances A. is the wife of John Buyers, of 
Sterling. Henry M. died in infanc}'. Will- 
iam died at the age of ten years. Joseph 
died at the age of twenty-three years while 
studying medicine in a college in New York 
City. 

Seven children were born to our subject 
and his wife, namely: (i) Mary is the wife 
of Adair Pleasants, a prominent lawyer of 
Rock Island, and they have two children, 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



303 



Dorothy and Matt. (2) Elmer, the present 
manager and secretary of the electric light 
company of Sterling, married Jennie Burdick 
and they have four children, Irene L. , 
Jeanette G. , Cora M. and Letitia. (3) 
Josephine is the wife of Archie A. Brock, 
who is engaged in the real estate business in 
Chicago, and they had four children, Archi- 
bald S. ; Fred C. ; Lyman D. ; and Grace 
Virginia, who died of diphtheria in June, 
1899. (4) Florence died at the age of sixteen 
months. (5) Robert G. is traveling for the 
Standard Oil Company and makes his home 
with his mother in Sterling. (6) Thomas, 
superintendent of the electric light plant of 
Sterling, married Helen T. Brookfield. (7) 
Dallas L. is at home. 

Mr. Crawford died May 13, 1883, and 
was laid to rest in Riverside cemetery. 
Sterling. Fraternally he affiliated with the 
Modern Woodmen of America, and polit- 
ically was identified with the Republican 
party. He was a prominent and active 
member of the Presbyterian church of 
Sterling, of which he was one of the trustees 
for a number of years and a teacher in the 
Sunday school. He was a man of the 
times, broad-minded, public-spirited and 
progressive and his influence was great 
and always for good. Mrs. Crawford also 
takes an active part in church work, is a 
member of the same congregation, and be- 
longs to the home and foreign missionary 
societies. 



GEORGE T. NEEDHAM. Among the 
brave men who devoted the opening 
years of their manhood to the defense of 
our country from the internal foe who 
sought her dismemberment, was George T. 
Needham, a prominent resident of Prophets- 



town, who is now living a retired life after 
many years devoted to agricultural pursuits. 
He was born in Mercercounty. Pennsylvania, 
July I, 1839, a son of George W. and 
Anna (Shaner) Needham, natives of Beaver 
county, that state, the former born in 1799, 
the latter in 1805. Our subject's paternal 
grandfather, George Needham, was a native 
of Scotland, while the maternal grandfather, 
Henry Shaner, was born in Germany, and 
both were early settlers of Beaver county, 
Pennsylvania. After his marriage, George 
W. Needham removed to Mercer county, 
where he cleared and improved a farm, 
making his home there until after the birth 
of all of his children. fn 1852, he came to 
Kendall county, Illinois, locating at Long 
Grove, near Yorkville, where he purchased 
one hundred and twenty acres of land and 
again devoted his energies to transforming 
wild land into a well-cultivated farm. There 
he died in 1S57, but his wife survived him 
for forty years, living to the remarkably old 
age of ninety-three. Our subject is the- 
youngest of their seven sons and one of a 
family of eleven children, only four of whom 
are now living: David S., a resident of Ken- 
esaw, Nebraska; Fanny wife of Winslow 
Stewart, of Piano, Illinois; and Caroline, 
wife of William Heckman, of Aurora. 

George T. Needham, of this review, 
was a lad of fifteen years when he accom- 
panied his parents on their removal to Ken- 
dall county, and he aided in opening up the 
home farm. He was provided with meager 
school privileges and is therefore almost 
wholly self-educated. After his father's 
death he took charge of the home farm and 
carried it on for some years. On the 15th 
of August, 1862, he enlisted in Company K, 
One Hundred and Twenty-seventh Illinois 
Volunteer Infantry, and remained in the 



304 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



service until hostilities ceased, being honor- 
ably discharged in June, 1865. He partic- 
ipated in the battles of Chickasaw Bayou, 
Arkansas Post, Port Gibson, Jackson, 
Champion Hill, Black River Bridge, the 
siege and capture of Vicksburg, the battle 
of Chattanooga, and the engagements 
around that place, including Lookout Mount- 
ain. With his command he then started 
on the Atlanta campaign, and took part in 
the battles of Resaca and Kingston and 
numerous engagements around Atlanta. 
After the capture of that city, he went with 
Sherman on his celebrated march to the sea, 
and later took part in the battle of Benton- 
ville. North Carolina, the last engagement 
of the war. He received two gunshot 
wounds, and was ill in the hospital at Jeffer- 
son Barracks, Missouri, during the winter 
of 1S63. He made for himself an honor- 
able record as a brave soldier and a valiant 
defender of the old flag and the cause it 
represented. 

After being discharged Mr. Needham re- 
turned to Kendall county and resumed farm- 
ing on the old homestead. He was mar- 
ried in that county November 7, 1865, to 
Miss Mary Throckmorton, who was born in 
Chicago, but was reared and educated in 
Kendall county. Her father, Matthew 
Throckmorton, was a native of Kentucky, 
and as a yoiing man came to this state. Her 
mother, who bore the maiden name of Eliza- 
beth Boyd, was also a native of Kentucky. 
Our subject and his wife began their mar- 
ried life on the Needham farm, but in the 
spring of 1868 he sold that place and came 
to Whiteside county, purchasing a farm of 
one hundred and twenty acres in Prophets- 
town township, to the further improvement 
and cultivation of which he at once turned 
his attention. He tiled and ditched the 



land, and erected thereon a comfortable 
home, a good barn and other outbuildings, 
and continued to successfully engage in gen- 
eral farming and stock raising until the 
spring of 1895, when he sold his farm and 
moved to Prophetstown. Here he purchased 
residence property and has since lived re- 
tired, enjoying a well-earned rest. 

Mr. and Mrs. Needham had four chil- 
dren, namely: George W., who is married 
and lives in New Me.xico; Anna, who mar- 
ried Harry Seeley, of Dwight, Illinois, and 
died May 11, 1899; Grace, wife of Lewis 
Lyons, a farmer of \\'hiteside county, and 
Maude, wife of Charles Stephenson, also of 
this county. There are also five grand- 
children. 

The Republican party finds in Mr. Need- 
ham a stanch supporter of its principles, and 
he cast his first presidential vote for Abra- 
ham Lincoln in i860. His father was an 
old-line Whig. Our subject has been promi- 
nently connected with educational interests, 
served for some years as member of the 
school board, and was president of the dis- 
trict for a time. He is a member of Proph- 
etstown lodge, F. & A. M., and of Tampico 
post, No. 49 1 , G. A. R. , in which he has filled 
all the offices, and is now past commander. 
His loyalty as a citizen and his devotion to 
his country's interests are among his marked 
characteristics, and the community is fortu- 
nate that numbers him among its citizens. 



EMMETT E. UNDERHILL. Many of 
the leading citizens of Whiteside county 
served their country as soldiers during the 
dark days of the Rebellion, making a record 
honorable and glorious. Among these brave 
boys in blue was Mr. Underbill, who is now 
a successful farmer and stock-raiser, owning 



IriE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



305 



and operating a well-improved farm on sec- 
tion 2, Prophetstown township, three miles 
east of the village of Prophetstown. 

He was born in that township December 
II, 1S47, ^ son of Lodowic and Cynthia 
(Goodell) Underbill, both of whom were 
natives of New York, but were married in 
this county. When a young man the father 
canie to this state, and in 1838 took up his 
residence in Portland township, Whiteside 
county. There his wife died in 1849, ^n<^ 
after her death our subject made his home 
with his cousin, William Spencer, until fif- 
teen years of age, when he started out in 
life for himself. He was only sixteen years 
of age when he entered the arm}', enlisting 
January 28, 1864, in Company K, Thirty- 
fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, which was 
assigned to the Army of the Tennessee. He 
participated in the Atlanta campaign and 
the numerous battles around that city, was 
with Sherman on the memorable march to 
the sea, and took part in the battle of Ben- 
tonville, which was the last battle of the 
war and one of the hottest engagements in 
which he participated. When hostilities 
ceased and his services were no longer 
needed, he was honorably discharged, in 
July, 1865, and returned home. He then 
worked by the month for a few years. 

On the 15th of September, 1868, Mr. 
Underbill was united in marriage with Miss 
Frances G. Gage, daughter of E. S. Gage, 
whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work. 
She was born and reared in Prophetstown 
township. Our subject and his wife have 
one son, Eugene, now a business man of 
Prophetstown. He married Cora Hotchkiss, 
a native of this county and a daughter of 
David Hotchkiss, and to them have been 
born two children, Orpha and Leah Fern. 

For three years after his marriage Mr. 



Underbill operated rented land, and in 1872 
purchased the farm where he now resides. 
At that time it was only slightly improved, 
but through his untiring efforts it has been 
converted into one of the most desirable 
farms of its size in the township. He has 
erected good buildings thereon, set out fruit 
and shade trees, and made many other im- 
provements which add greatly to the value 
and attractive appearance of the place. He 
has met with well-deserved success in his 
labors and is accounted one of the most 
skillful agriculturists in the community. 
Since casting his first presidential ballot for 
General Grant, in 1868, he has been an un- 
compromising Republican. His fellow citi- 
zens, recognizing his worth and ability, have 
honored him with several local offices. In 
1893 he was elected commissioner of high- 
ways, which office he has now creditably 
filled for si.x years, and has served as treas- 
urer of the board for five years. He has 
also been a member of the school board 
several terms. He is an honored member 
of Prophetstown post, G. A. R., in which 
he has filled several offices, and is highly 
esteemed and respected wherever known, 
and most of all where he is best known. 



JOEL W^ FARLEY, constable and ex- 
sheriff of Whiteside county, with resi- 
dence and office at Fulton, was born August 
7, 1 84 1, at Erie county, Pennsylvania, a 
son of Joel and Mary (Finch) Farley, the 
former of whom was born in New Jersey, 
and the latter in Canada. His parents 
spent the early part of their married life in 
Pennsylvania, from whence they removed 
to Indiana. A short time after, the father 
joined a company of forty-niners starting 
for the gold fields, with whom he crossed 



3o6 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



the plains in an ox team, being eleven 
months on the way. Three years later, 
having met with better success than the 
majority of miners, he returned 7'ia the 
Isthmus, bringing with iiim several gold 
nuggets. Locating at Mishawaka, Indiana, 
four miles from South Bend, he there en- 
gaged in agricultural pursuits until 1862, 
when he came with his family to Whiteside 
county, Illinois. Purchasing a farm about 
five miles east of Fulton he continued his 
chosen occupation until his death, in 1866. 
He was a Democrat in politics, and though 
never an office seeker was an active worker 
for his party. His wife survived him, dying 
in July, 189S. Of their nine children three 
died in childhood, one daughter and two 
sons. Si.x grew to years of maturity, 
namely: John, a farmer in Oklahoma 
Ozias A., a farmer in Burt county, Nebraska 
Joel W., the special subject of this sketch 
James Kendall, deceased; George, deceased 
and Charles, deceased. 

Joel W. Farley was a sturdy youth of 
twenty-one years when he came with his 
parents to this county. He assisted in the 
improvement of the new farm, and for a 
number of years after his father's death was 
sole manager of the estate. In 1871, or 
thereabouts, he left the homestead, coming 
to Fulton to assume the duties of constable. 
In 1 89 1 he was elected sheriff of the county, 
an important position which he filled ac- 
ceptably four years, after which he served 
as deputy sheriff under C. C. Fuller. Since 
April, 1897, he has been constable again, 
and has his office in the De Bey building, 
where he is also carrying on a lucrative 
business in real estate and loans, and 
negotiates sales, buying and selling estates. 
He is likewise interested to a considerable 
extent in both town and country property, 



dealing largely in both. He has been in 
public life almost continuously since coming 
to Fulton, and for three terms has rendered 
excellent service to the city as an alderman, 
having represented the third ward two 
terms, and the second ward one term. 
\\'hile living on the farm he was an office 
holder several years, having been road com- 
missioner and school director. 

On September 7, i 880, Mr. Farley married 
Miss Sarah Collins, daughter of William and 
Jane (Buckner) Collins, of Putnam, Ontario, 
and they have one son. Perry C. Farley, 
born May 30, 1888. Politically Mr. Farley 
is a strong supporter of the principles of the 
Democratic party, and has the distinction of 
being the only sheriff ever elected in White- 
side county on that ticket, having then re- 
ceived a rousing majoritj' of 660 votes. 
Fraternally he is a member of Fulton City 
lodge. No. 189, A. F. & A. M. ; and of 
Abou Ben Adhem lodge. No. 148, I. O. O. 
F., of which he is past grand, and has at- 
tended grand lodge conventions. Mrs. Far- 
ley is a member of the Fulton Presbyterian 
church, of which Mr. Farley is an attendant, 
and a generous contributor towards its sup- 
port. 



COLONEL JOSEPH A. LUBLINER. 
The history of this esteemed citizen of 
Sterling is of unusual interest, and his nu- 
merous friends, here and elsewhere, will 
peruse the outline, as given below, with 
keen relish. Few of our foreign-born citi- 
zens are more loyal in their devotion to this, 
the land of theiradoption, than he has been 
for the period of his residence here, about 
half a century. 

Colonel Lubliner is a native of I\alitza, 
Poland, his birth having occurred March 17, 
1824. He is one of the seven children of 




COL. J. A. LUBLINER. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



309 



Michael and Mary (Pincof) Lubliner. The 
father was the owner of a large estate there, 
and never left his native land. In his youth 
our subject attended the high school, and 
later was a student at the University of 
Cracow, which city now belongs to Austria. 
The young man spent two years at college, 
giving his undivided attention to the mas- 
tery of law, for he wished to become an ad- 
vocate. 

In 1848, as is well remembered by the 
student of history, occurred the attempt of 
Austria to absorb Hungarj*, and in company 
with about two hundred other students our 
subject went to the aid of Kossuth, who 
bravely endeavored to free his country from 
the yoke of oppression, and was given a 
position as aide on the staff of that noted 
general, with the rank of colonel. The 
knowledge of military tactics, which he had 
already gained at college, rendered the young 
student of great assistance to the renowned 
leader, but at the end of some ten months 
of hard fighting he was taken prisoner by 
the Russians, and was sentenced to twenty- 
five years of service in the Russian army. 
For some time he was stationed at Moscow, 
and later was one of the imperial guard at 
the palace of the czar, Nicholas. The 
young man, however, had no intention of 
spending the best years of his life in the 
service of a tyrant whom he so thoroughly 
despised, and he patiently awaited an op- 
portunity to escape such slavery. While on 
regular duty he chanced to pass the locality 
in which his early home, Kalitza, was lo- 
cated, and making a bold dash for freedom 
he left the ranks of the army, and disguis- 
ing himself in some clothes which his friends 
had awaiting him he took the passport also 
provided him by their forethought, and went 
to Brussels, thence to Liepsic and Ham- 



burg. From the last-mentioned city he pro- 
ceeded to England, and at Liverpool found 
his superior, Ceneral Kossuth, and came 
with him to America, and with that hero 
shared an enthusiastic welcome from the 
Americans. Later he was entertained at 
the home of Commodore Vanderbilt, and 
with his general was honored with various 
public receptions. During his residence of 
about a year in New York state and in New 
Jersey the colonel obtained a fair knowledge 
of the English language. 

In 1852, he went to the Pacific coast, 
by the way of the Isthmus of Panama, and 
for five months he worked in the gold mines. 
Finding his health somewhat impaired, he 
returned to San Francisco, and entered the 
employ of W'illiam T. Coleman, one of the 
wealthiest mine-owners and merchants of 
the United States. For two years he served 
as a member of the Pioneer Guards of San 
Francisco, and for a like period was the 
captain of the Vigilance Committee which 
restored law and order to the city, after a 
period of terror and lawlessness. After 
spending three years in the west, he re- 
turned to New York, and thence came to 
Sterling. During the ensuing nineteen 
years, he travelled for large cloth houses, 
selling all kinds of dress goods. He then 
decided to lead a more quite life, and for a 
few years carried on a farm in Palmyra 
township, Lee county, Illinois, making a 
specialty of raising live stock, and, as in all 
other ventures which he had undertaken, 
made a success of the enterprise. 

On Christmas day, 1859, the Colonel 
married Julia A. Harrison, a native of 
New York state, and daughter of Norman 
and Deliverance (Standish) Harrison. The 
former, who is a cousin of William H. Har- 
rison, was the first settler of the now popu- 



;lO 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



lous Boone county, New York, and his wife 
was a daughter of Israel Standish, the 
grand-nephew of Miles Standish, of Plym- 
outh colony fame. Norman Harrison and 
wife had seven children, namely: Sophro- 
nia, Charles, deceased; Maria, deceased; 
Louis, Julia, Nancy and David, deceased. 
Charles Harrison once owned all of the land 
where Clinton, Iowa, now stands, this prop- 
erty having been taken by him from the gov- 
ernment. Norman Harrison was one of the 
earliest settlers in the vicinity of Clinton. 

Politically, the Colonel is a Democrat, 
but has never sought nor desired public of- 
fice. His devoted wife, whose death oc- 
curred on the 4th of June, 1897, was a 
member of the Presbyterian church. Though 
he has never identified himself with any 
denomination, our subject attends the Pres- 
byterian church and contributes to its sup- 
port. Both he and his estimable wife have 
had the love and esteem of a large circle of 
friends. 



WILFORD L. DARLING, a leading 
and representative farmer of Tamp- 
ico township, residing on section 24, was 
born in Worcester, Massachusetts, October 
25, 1854, and belongs to an old and highly 
respected family of that state. His father, 
Palmer Darling, was born on the old home- 
stead near Sutton, which is still in the pos- 
session of the family, and was there reared 
to manhood. He married Miss Martha 
Holmes, a native of Southbridge, Massa- 
chusetts. Both grandfathers of our subject 
were soldiers of the Revolutionary war. 
After his marriage, the father located in 
Worcester, where he worked at his trade of 
carpentering, and where he continued to 
make his home throughout life. He died 



in 1868, at the age of forty-six years, his 
wife, in i864,_at the age of thirty-nine 
years. 

Our subject spent his youth in his native 
city and was educated in its public schools. 
At an early age he commenced work for a 
mechanic, doing chores, and at intervals at- 
tended school when possible. Later he 
worked in a woolen factory at Cherry Val- 
ley, Massachusetts, for one winter, and 
then clerked in a store at Grafton, Massa- 
chusetts. In 1874, at the age of twenty 
years, he came to Illinois and joined an 
uncle in Winnebago county, where he 
worked as a farm hand by the months for 
five years, being with two men two years 
each and with another one year. He then 
purchased a team, harness and wagon and 
drove across the country to Fillmore county, 
Nebraska, where he followed farming on his 
own account. 

After living alone for two years, Mr. 
Darling was married in Fairmont, Fillmore 
county, March 14, 1882, to Miss Nancy 
Beautebaugh, who was born iu Tiskilwa, 
Illinois. Her father, Jacob Beautebaugh, 
was a native of Pennsylvania and an early 
settler of Illinois, who lived first in Bureau 
county and later in Whiteside county. For 
about three years after his marriage, Mr. 
Darling continued to engage m farming in 
Nebraska, and then returned to Illinois, 
again driving across the state of Iowa. He 
located on Beautebaugh farm near Hills- 
dale, which, after operating for fifteen years, 
he bought from the heirs, but in 1897 he 
traded that farm for his present place on 
section 24, Tampico township. Here he 
has a well improved farm of one hundred 
and twenty-three acres, on which is a large, 
new house, a good barn and everything in 
first-class order. He also rents a tract and 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



311 



now operates two hundred and forty acres 
with good success. 

Mr. and Mrs. Darling have six children, 
three sons and three daughters, namely : Rob- 
ert Lincoln, Mabel Estella, Fred Monroe, 
Charles Harrison, Emma Ethel and Bertha 
Agnes. Politically Mr. Darling is a stanch 
Republican, having al^liated with that party 
since casting his iirst presidential vote for 
Rutherford B. Hayes. For some years he 
served as a member of the school board 
and his support is given every enterprise 
which he believes will advance the moral, 
intellectual and material welfare of his 
community. He and his wife are active 
and prominent members of the Methodist 
Episcopal church of Tampico, and he is a 
great Sunday school worker, having served 
as superintendent for seven years, and as 
teacher of a class of boys at Kensterville. 
He belongs to the Modern Woodmen of 
America, while both himself and wife are 
members of the Royal Neighbors. 



HON. DWIGHT S. SPAFFORD. Few 
men are more prominent or more 
widely known in the enterprising city of 
Morrison than this gentleman. He has 
been an important factor in business circles 
and in public affairs, and his popularity is 
well deserved, as in him are embraced the 
characteristics of an unbending integrity, 
unabated energy and industry that never 
flags. He is public-spirited and thoroughly 
interested in whatever tends to promote the 
moral, intellectual and material welfare of 
his town and county. 

Mr. Spafford was born in Bergen, Gene- 
see county. New York, December 22, 1834, 
and is a representative of an old New Eng- 
land family, his ancestors having come from 



the old Spafford castle in England to the 
United States at an early day and settled 
near Worcester, Massachusetts. His father, 
Sumner Spafford, was born at Worcester 
about 1800, and when ten years old removed 
to Genesee county, New York, with his 

parents, Jacob and Spafford. At 

that time Rochester contained only the cabin 
of Mr. Rochester and one or two others. 
The Spafford famil}' located in the woods 
near Bergen, and the grandfather of our 
subject took up new land in the Holland 
purchase. Upon his place he erected a 
cabin, and the first year cleared a small 
piece of ground, which he planted in corn. 
The following spring he made more ex- 
tensive improvements upon his place, and 
soon had two hundred acres cleared and 
placed under cultivation. Upon that farm 
he continued to make his home until his 
death. He was probably at Buffalo during 
the war of 1812, in which conflict his sons 
were engaged. With his wife he returned 
to Worcester, Massachusetts, a number of 
times before the Erie canal was built, mak- 
ing the trip with a horse and buggy. They 
were members of the Presbyterian church 
and most estimable people. 

Sumner Spafford, father of our subject, 
was reared and educated at l-^ergen, New 
York, and spent his entire life on the old 
homestead, of which he had charge after 
his father's death. He was an extensive 
wheat grower and became quite well-to-do. 
He served as lieutenant-colonel in the state 
militia, was a Whig in politics, and a faith- 
ful member of the Presbyterian church. He 
died in 1857, and his wife in her maid- 
enhood was Miss Delia Barber, of Bergen, 
New York. To them were born four chil- 
dren, who reached years of maturity, but 
our subject is the only one living in Illinois. 



;i2 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Dwight S. Spafford acquired his early 
education in the public schools of Bergen, 
and later pursued a course of study at the 
Collegiate Institute in Brockport, and the 
normal school at Albany, New York, from 
which he was graduated in 1855. The fol- 
lowing year he was principal of the schools 
at Greene, Chenango county. New York, 
and in 1856 came to Equality, Illinois, 
where he held a similar position for three 
years. It was in 1859 that he came to Mor- 
rison, which at that time was a small place 
about three years old, and he has since 
been engaged in the grocery trade, opening 
a store three doors west of his present loca- 
tion. He carried on business there until 
1864, when he purchased his present prop- 
erty and erected the block, which he has 
now occupied continuously for thirty-five 
years. There is only one man now in busi- 
ness in the county who has been continu- 
oush' so occupied longer than our subject, 
and he is a resident of Sterling. In addi- 
tion to groceries Mr. Spafford carries a well- 
selected stock of crockery, glassware, cut- 
lery and plated ware, and he enjoys an ex- 
cellent trade. For many years he has also 
been a director of the First National Bank 
of Morrison, and has been connected with 
other corporate companies which have built 
up the industrial interests of the town. 

Mr. Spafford first married Miss Ann E. 
Robertson, of Morrison, a daughter of John 
A. Robertson, one of the pioneers of the 
town. She died in 1886, leaving four chil- 
dren: Frank S., now a resident of Great 
Falls, Montana, who married Lillian Good- 
ell, and has two children; John Earle, a 
resident of Kearney, Nebraska; Roy Rob- 
ertson, who aids his father in business, and 
Fred, who is still attending school. In 
1890 Mr. Spafford was again married, his 



second union being with Miss Alice Smith, 
daughter of Leander Smith, a prominent 
and well-known banker of Morrison. The 
children born to them are Leander S., Alice 
and Allen. The family have a beautiful 
home on East Grove street, and they attend 
and support the Presbyterian church. 

Mr. Spafford is a prominent Mason but 
has always avoided office. He joined the 
'fraternit}' at Equality, but dimitted to Dun- 
lap lodge, F. & A, M., and now belongs to 
the chapter at Sterling and commandery at 
Dixon, the consistory at Freeport, and 
Medina Temple, Mystic Shrine, at Chicago. 
He is a recognized leader of the Republican 
party in his community, has taken a very 
active part in campaign work, and has been 
a delegate to different state conventions and 
alternate to the national convention that 
nominate James G. Blaine for president in 
1884. The first office he was called upon 
to fill was that of city alderman and it was 
during his incumbency that the water was 
first brought to Main street from the artesian 
well which had previously been drilled but 
nothing done with it. Under the direction 
of the city council, of which he was a mem- 
ber, the pipe on Main street was laid and 
a tank erected on the hill and the water 
brought to the heart of the city, thus start- 
ing the first practical water system. For 
five or six years he was a member of the 
board of county supervisors, and during that 
period the old stone cells were torn out of 
the jail and steel cages and cells were put 
in. The county office building was also 
erected — a beautiful structure with fireproof 
vaults for the county and circuit clerks, the 
vaults being so commodious that all writing 
is done in them and no books ever taken 
out. It was built under an appropriation 
at a cost of ten thousand dollars, and is 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



313 



complete in all its appointments. This ele- 
gant building retlects great credit upon Mr. 
Spafford who was chairman of the building 
committee. He was a member of the board 
of education for a number of years and 
president of the same two years, during 
which time four new rooms were added to 
the high school building, while the third 
floor was abandoned as being little better 
than a fire trap. He has always taken a 
deep interest in educational matters and all 
needed reforms. In 1884 he was elected to 
the state legislature, and was one of the 
memorable one hundred and three who after 
four months of balloting finally triumph- 
antly elected John A. Logan to the United 
States Senate. It was the greatest struggle 
of the kind in history up to that time. Mr. 
Spafford was a personal friend of General 
Logan. He was a member of the com- 
mittees on appropriations, education and 
banking, and was quite a prominent and in- 
fluential member of the house. He was one 
of the founders and since its inception has 
been a trustee of the Morrison Scientific & 
Literary Association, which has given to the 
city a fine public library. 



CAPTAIN JACOB H. HOOFSTITLER, 
of Sterling, Illinois, who has attained 
distinctive preferment in militar}' circles and 
as a Prohibition lecturer, was born in 
Salunga, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, 
January 9, 1846, and is a son of John H. 
and Mary Ann (Hostetter) Hoofstitler, also 
natives of Pennsylvania, the former born in 
September, 1820, the latter in June of the 
same year. Herr Jacob \'on Hostetter, the 
American progenitor of the mother's family, 
came to this country in 1636 and settled in 
what is now Lancaster county, Pennsylva- 



nia. He was of noble birth, but on account 
of his religious belief he was banished from 
Germany to Holland and later went to 
Switzerland and from there came to Amer- 
ica. On the paternal side our subject is of 
Swiss descent, and the founder of the 
family in this country settled in Philadel- 
phia in 1637. Some of his ancestors were 
soldiers of the Revolutionary war, and the 
paternal grandfathet served in the war of 
18 1 2, the Mexican war, and at the age of 
seventy-five years enlisted in the war of the 
Rebellion, though he had to dye his hair 
before he could pass muster. He followed 
the Federal army until the close of the war. 
He died at Clifton Heights, Pennsylvania, 
at the e.xtreme old age of ninety-eight 
years. His son, John H. Hoofstitler, the 
father of our subject, was engaged in mer- 
cantile business in Pennsylvania for thirty 
years, but spent his last days in retirement. 
After his children were grown they came to 
Illinois to make homes for themselves, and 
though the parents made several visits to 
their homes, they continued to live in their 
native state throughout life. In 1871 they 
moved to Millersville, Lancaster county, 
Pennsylvania, but died in 1897, within four 
months of each other. They were highly 
respected and esteemed by all who knew 
them. Both were strong abolitionists, and 
were persecuted for their early advocacy for 
the overthrow of the institution of slavery. 
Of their eight children, five are now liv- 
ing, and of these our subject of the eldest. 
Sallie A. is the wife of S. S. Creider, who, 
with Isaac Korn, has been interested in the 
manufacture of a patent corn husker and 
shredder of corn, for a number of years 
and has been quite a success. Lizzie is the 
wife of A. B. Levenite, of Pennsylvania. 
Susan is the wife of Amos K. Martin, of 



314 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Philadelphia. William is a resident of 
Sterling. Illinois, and is considered one of 
the best clothing salesmen in the state. 

The boyhood of our subject was passed 
at home, and at the age of ten years he en- 
tered the academy at Lititz, Pennsylvania, 
where he pursued his studies for three 
years. In 1861, at the breaking out of the 
Civil war, he ran away and entered the 
service. Though young in years his manly 
bearing was in his favor, and he enlisted in 
the Pennsylvania Reserves. After some 
time spent in camp at Philadelphia, they 
proceeded to Washington. In 1864, he 
was mustered out, but in July, of the same 
year, he re-enlisted in Company K, One 
Hundred and Ninety-fifth Pennsylvania 
Volunteer Infantry, as a one-hundred-day 
man, and was mustered into service as sec- 
ond lieutenant at Harrisburg, when they 
proceeded to Relay House, Maryland, Mon- 
ocacy Junction and Martinsburg, doing pa- 
trol duty along the line of the railroad to 
Wheeling, West Virginia. The regiment 
was a part of the Second Brigade, Third 
Division and Eighth Army Corps. After re- 
enlisting, our subject went to Washington, 
D. C, where his command did patrol duty 
until the close of the war. 

During his military service. Captain 
Hoofstitler devoted considerable time to 
reading law, and while home on a leave of 
absence was admitted to the bar at Lan- 
caster, Pennsylvania, in 1865. At the 
close of the war he returned home, but 
later came to Sterling, Illinois, where he re- 
mained some time. He was then appoint- 
ed government scout and went to the plains 
of the west, being stationed at Fort Omaha, 
where he was engaged in military operations 
against the border desperadoes that infested 
that section of the country, finally extin- 



guishing them. Subsequently he was sta- 
tioned at Yankton, Dakota, and operated 
against the Mittleton band of robbers and 
horse thieves, being associated with Kit 
Carson, Buffalo Bill, Wild Bill and old 
Captain Jack Crawford, the poet scout, 
in their operations against the thieves and 
marauders of the west. While on the plains 
he allowed his hair to grow until it was 
about twenty-four mches long, and as it was 
black, he became known as Black Beaver. 
In later years while on lecture tours he often 
met those whom he had known on the 
plains and the acquaintanceship thus re- 
newed proved very pleasant to both parties. 
At length Captain Hoofstitler removed 
from Denver, Colorado, to Julesburg, and 
was appointed by Judge Bartlett as clerk of 
the United States district court, in which 
capacity he served one year. Being of a 
fearless nature he was not cowed by any of 
the threats hurled at him and proved a very 
important factor in several important rob- 
bery trials. During this period the sur- 
rounding country was infested with every 
species of robbers, thieves and cut-throats. 
Every previous mayor or judge who had 
undertaken to hold a court of justice, or to 
maintain order, had been killed. The first 
session of the court to which he had been 
appointed clerk was held in June, 1867, at 
which time occurred .the trial of ''One- 
Eyed Jack " and "Shorty," the character- 
istic names of two of the most desperate 
and daring of the notorious crooks and ban- 
dits whose punishment the court was insti- 
tuted to determine. Ranged around the 
wigwam (court room) were about 'two hun- 
dred desperado friends of the prisoners, 
armed to the teeth with bowie-knives and 
revolvers. The judge inquired of the ar- 
raigned prisoners if they had secured coun- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RFXORD. 



315 



sel for their defense. They rephed "they 
didn't reckon any would be needed." The 
judge (Edmund Bartlett) astonished his 
auditors by the emphatic declaration: " By 
God, gentlemen, if the testimony is suffi- 
cient to convict, I'll proncjunce the sen- 
tence." The judge appointed an attorney 
to defend the prisoners and allowed them 
the right of trial by jury. The testimony 
adduced was positive proof of the guilt of 
the accused. The jury was duly instructed 
by the judge as to their duty as indicated in 
the evidence. Retiring for consultation, 
they returned within fifteen minutes, but 
the foreman was afraid to announce the 
verdict. The judge now instructed the 
clerk to poll the jury. The answer of the 
foreman was " guilty," whereupon four hun- 
dred revolvers were drawn by the two hun- 
dred desperado allies of the guilty devils 
upon whom the sentence of the law was 
about to be passed. The judge, with a 
coolness which ever commands respect, 
said: " I have heard your threats; I know 
your intentions; I give you fair warning. 
There is room enough in the sand hills of 
Julesburg to bury every d — d desperado 
that infests the plains." He pronounced 
sentence: Si.x months imprisonment and a 
fine of two hundred and fift}- dollars, and to 
stand committed until the fine and costs 
were paid. ' ' Sheriff, " said the judge, ' ' take 
these men to jail." The sheriff refusing to 
obey the order, the judge drew his revolv- 
ers and placing one at the head of each of 
the prisoners, said: "These men go to 
jail or fall dead, if I turn my toes up the 
next minute. Clerk, cover the mob." 
The clerk obeyed the order of the court by- 
drawing his revolvers and keeping the des- 
peradoes at bay, while the judge conducted 
the prisoners to the jail. This court was 



in session for thirteen weeks, during which 
there were so many convictions as to com- 
pel the erection of additional jail facilities 
for the confinement of the criminals. - 

When the term of " Shorty" and " One- 
Eyed Jack" had expired, they inquired for 
the office of Judge Bartlett, of which the 
judge received notice, thinking perhaps they 
were seeking his life, but remarked: "Tell 
them to come on. " Knocking at the door 
of his office, they were invited to enter. 
To the query of the judge, " What is it you 
want, gentlemen," they replied, " We want 
to shake hands with you and congratulate 
you as being the <?«/)' judge that ever had any 
sand in his craw." Captain Hoofstitler then 
returned to Sterling and was variously 
employed until February, 1875, when he 
began a crusade in the cause of temper- 
ance as a lecturer. He has delivered 
lectures in every state and territory in the 
Union and is much sought after on ac- 
count of his thrilling manner of deliv- 
ery which has made him a peer among the 
best speakers of the cause. In his tours he 
has had to deal with mobs and by his un- 
daunted courage has averted serious conse- 
quences. He has the power of holding his 
audiences spellbound by picturing the results 
of the liquor traffic, and has always taken a 
decided step in the furtherance of his doc- 
trines. Since 1876 he has been a delegate 
at large to all state and national conven- 
tions of the Prohibition party. In 1890 he 
was called to speak in Nebraska City, and 
was the only lecturer on prohibition that 
was not insulted or driven out that year. 
At the first lecture he had an audience of 
fifteen hundred people, which kept increas- 
ing until at the fourth lecture it numbered 
about six thousand people. In 1896, hav- 
ing some difficulty with the management of 



3i6 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



his lecture courses, he did not go out, and 
as the new issues of the day were to his lik- 
ing, he took a stand for W. J. Bryan and the 
Chicago platform. During that campaign he 
delivered fifty-five speeches in sixty days. 
He is very decided in character and his 
military bearing carries conviction to his 
hearers. He is a strong anti-expansionist, 
anti-imperialist and anti-militarist. He 
believes the Philipinos and the Cubans are 
entitled to their independence. As a 
speaker and lecturer he has made a decided 
success financially, and by his ability he 
commands and receives a good price for his 
services. In 1892 he ran for congressman 
on the Prohibition ticket, receiving fifteen 
hundred more votes than any other Prohi- 
bition candidate ever received in the district. 
He is a member of G. H. Thomas post, No. 
84, G. A. R., of Lancaster City, Pennsyl- 
vania; and of Corinthian lodge, No. 63, 
K. P., of Sterling. He has been president 
of the State Christian Temperance Union of 
Illinois; and was second vice-president of 
the International Temperance Alliance of 
the World; and financial secretary of the 
National Christian Temperance Union of 
the United States. 

On the 19th of May, 1870, Captain 
Hoofstitler was united in marriage with Miss 
Mary E. Kauffman, of Sterling, who was 
born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, 
October 27, 1849, l^ut came to this county 
when only six years old with her parents, 
also natives of the Keystone state. By this 
union ten children were born, and six are 
still living, namely; Jacob H., born De- 
cember 20, 1S72, married Winnie Briggs 
and has one child, Marie. He is a well-known 
grocer of Sterling, a member of the firm of 
Hoofstitler & Seidel, on West Third street. 
Francis M., born February 3, 1S75, is su- 



perintendent of a stock farm of sixteen hun- 
dred acres in Hume township, belonging to 
a relative. Mary E., born April 14, 1878, 
is the wife of George Kline, of Sterling. 
Bessie, born in 1884, is a popular elocu- 
tionist, having inherited from her father the 
gift of delivery. Pearl, born in 1885, and 
William H., born in 1890, complete the 
family. The wife and mother died in 1890, 
since which time the once happy home of 
this family has been broken up, as the 
Captain's business keeps him away about 
eight months out of the year. 



AUGUST ZSCHIESCHE. This well- 
known resident of Spring Hill is one of 
the leading German born citizens of White- 
side county, and in his successful business 
career he has shown the characteristic 
thrift and enterprise of his race. Begin- 
ning with no capital except that acquired by 
his own industry, he built up a large trade 
as a blacksmith and wagon manufacturer, 
and is now able to lay aside all business 
cares and live retired, having already ac- 
quired a comfortable competence. 

Mr. Zschiesche was born in the kingdom 
of Prussia, Germany, March 31, 1824, and 
was given a good common-school education 
in his native land, where he also learned 
the wheelwright, millwright and miller's 
trades. In i860 he emigrated to the United 
States, sailing from Hamburg on the Uten- 
berg, which was fifty eight days in crossing 
the Atlantic, being almost shipwrecked. 
The vessel sprung a leak and crew and pas- 
sengers kept the pumps going for four 
weeks, day and night, until they finally ar- 
rived in New York in safety, but on the 
next voyage the vessel was lost with all 
on board except the second mate. Mr. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



31; 



Zschiesche landed in New York, October 
19, i860, and proceeded at once to Spring 
Hill, Whiteside county, Illinois. That fall 
he worked on a farm gathering corn, but as 
he was unfamiliar with farm work and his 
hands were very tender, it proved a hard 
undertaking. Nearly every ear he husked 
was marked with blood. The following 
year he worked at the carpenter's and join- 
er's trade, and then opened a shop in Spring 
Hill, where he engaged in the manufacture 
of wagons and buggies and also worked 
at blacksmithing and did general repair 
work. 

In the fall of 1864 he laid aside all per- 
sonal interests and enlisted in Company K, 
One Hundred and Twelfth Illinois Volun- 
teer Infantry. He was in active service in 
Kentucky, Tennessee and North Carolina, 
taking part in a number of skirmishes and 
raids, the first of these being in Tennessee. 
He was then detailed with some of the regi- 
ment to take prisoners to Eastport, Missis- 
sippi, and there took a boat back to Alex- 
andria. After rejoining the regiment, they 
boarded the large steamer, Atlanta, on 
which were about thirty-three hundred sol- 
diers and two hundred sailors, and went to 
Fort Fisher, and later up the coast to Cape 
Fear. They participated in the fight in 
front of Fort Henderson and Wilmington, 
bombarding and finally taking those cities. 
Mr. Zschiesche was ill in the hospital at 
Wilmington for a time, later was in the 
field hospital, and from there was sent to 
New York, where he was honorably dis- 
charged in July, 1865. Returning home he 
resumed his former business in Spring Hill, 
where he successfully carried on operations 
as a blacksmith and wagon manufacturer 
until the fall of 1898, when he gave up his 
shop and has since lived retired, enjoying 

18 



a well-earned rest. He owns a pleasant 
home in Spring Hill. 

In that village, Mr. Zschiesche was 
married, August 3, 1862, to Miss Mary 
Riger, also a native of Germany, who came 
to America in the spring of i86o and located 
in this state. To them were born eight 
children, namely: August,- now a business 
man of Davenport, Iowa; Louis and 
Charles, both farmers of Whiteside county; 
Carrie, wife of Herman Tabor, a substantial 
farmer of this county; William, a business 
man of St. Paul, Minnesota; Mary, a teach- 
er of this county and the wife of Ralph 
McReady, of Tampico township; Minnie, 
also a teacher of this county; and Rosila, 
who died at the age of two years and three 
months. 

Since casting his first presidential vote 
for General Grant in 1868, Mr. Zschiesche 
has afifiliated with the Republican part}', 
but has never been a politician in the sense 
of office seeking, preferring to devote his 
undivided attention to his business interests. 
He and his wife are members of the Evan- 
gelical church and are well-known and 
highly respected. 



CHRISTIAN P. PETERSON is one of 
the substantial citizens of Prophets- 
town township who are of alien l)irth, and 
who have, by their own unaided exertions, 
become quite well-to-do. He is now the 
owner of a fine farm of one hundred and 
twenty-two and a half acres on section 29, 
and is successfully engaged in general farm- 
ing and stock raising. 

Mr. Peterson was born in Denmark, 
June 24, 1842, was reared upon a farm in 
his native land and received a good com- 
mon-school education, but his knowledge of 



318 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



the English language has all been acquired 
through his own efforts since coming to this 
country. Bidding good-b)'e to home and 
friends, he sailed from Copenhagen in 1869 
bound for New York. On reaching that 
cit}' he came at once to Illinois and located 
first in Geneseo, where he worked one 
month in a brickyard. He then found work 
as a farm hand in the neighborhood of his 
present home and was thus employed for 
two years. 

On the 6th of October, 1871, Mr. Peter- 
son married Miss Ellen Burroughs, who 
was born in New York, but was reared in 
this county, her father. Siller Burroughs, 
being one of its early settlers. For three 
years after his marriage, he operated rented 
land in Prophetstown township, and then, 
in 1874, moved to Crawford county, Kan- 
sas, where he subsequently bought and sold 
several farms, and where he still owns a 
• valuable place of two hundred and forty 
acres, four miles from Girard. There his 
wife died March 30, 1891, and he soon 
afterward rented his farm to his son and re- 
turned to Whiteside county. Illinois. By 
that union he had four children: Celia, 
who is married and operates his father's 
farm in Kansas; Alice; Emma, and William. 
On his return to this state, Mr. Peterson 
opened a restaurant in Geneseo, and also 
bought and conducted a mercantile store at 
that place, remaining there about seven 
months. He then purchased a farm in 
Prophetstown township, which he subse- 
quently sold, and then bought his present 
farm in the same township, locating thereon 
in the spring of 1895. He has since made 
many improvements upon the place, re- 
modeling the residence, building barns, 
corn cribs, etc., and erecting a wind pump. 
He now devotes his time and energies to 



general farming and stockraising and in his 
undertakings is meeting with marked suc- 
cess. 

Mr. Peterson was again married, July 
21, 1892, his second union being with Miss 
Mary Day, a daughter of William Day, of 
Crawford county, Kansas. She was born 
in Kentucky, but when a child of twelve 
years moved with the family to I\ansas, 
where she grew to womanhood. Two chil- 
dren bless their marriage. Pearl and Ruby. 

In his political views Mr. Peterson is an 
ardent Republican and cast his first presi- 
dential vote for Benjamin Harrison. While 
in Ivansas he was elected and served as 
justice of the peace of Crawford township, 
and resigned that office on his return to Illi- 
nois He was also a member of the school 
board in that state for ten years, and for 
four years in Whiteside county.. He and 
his wife are earnest and consistent members 
of the Methodist Episcopal church, and he 
is now one of its trustees. He is a man 
of e.xemplary habits and sterling worth, and 
no man in the community is held in higher 
regard. 



JOHN M. HUNTER, an honored and 
highly respected citizen of Tampico, 
who is now living a retired life, was born 
in Cayuga county. New York, September 
23, 1842, a native of John and Ann (May- 
nard) Hunter, who were born, reared and 
married in England, and on their emigra- 
tion to the United States settled in Cayuga 
county, New York, where they made their 
home for several years. There the father 
died in 1847, and in 1856 the mother came 
west to Bureau county. Illinois, where she 
spent the remainder of her life, dying there 
in 1865. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



319 



Our subject was a lad of fourteen 3'ears 
when he came with the family to this state, 
and in Bureau county he grew to manhood, 
receiving rather a limited education. In 
early life he worked by the month and 
helped care for his mother in her declining 
years. He not only worked as a farm hand 
but also was employed at ditching or any- 
thing which he could find to do, and later 
engaged in farming on rented land. In Bu- 
reau county, Mr. Hunter was married, in 
September, 1870, to Miss Mary Jane \\'ood- 
worth, who was born and reared in New 
York, and was the daughter of Hiland and 
Cordilla (Winters) Woodworth, who were 
natives of New York. They began their 
domestic life in that county, where he had 
purchased a small farm of forty acres. 
Later he traded that place for eighty acres 
in the same county, which had been culti- 
vated but no buildings erected thereon. In 
1869 he removed to Tampico township, 
Whiteside county, where he had previously 
owned forty acres, and at that time bought 
an adjoining eighty-acre tract. Upon the 
place he erected a good house and barn, set 
out fruit and ornamental trees, and to its 
cultivation and further improvement he de- 
voted his energies until the fall of 1899, 
when he removed to Tampico and retired 
from active business. Besides his own land 
he also operated rented farms. He still 
owns his farm, which is pleasantly located 
within three miles of Tampico. 

Mrs. Hunter's first wife died in 1877 
leaving three children: Alta May, who 
is now the father's housekeeper; William, 
who carries on the home farm ; and Grace, 
who is keeping house for her brother. Eor 
his second wife, Mr. Hunter married Mrs. 
Mary Macomber, who was born in New 
York, but was principally reared in Boston, 



Massachusetts, until fourteen years of age, 
when she came to this state with her uncle as 
her parents had died. She was the mother of 
four children by her first marriage: Waldo, 
Elizabeth, Frederick and Gertrude, and 
they reside in Chicago, Illinois. She died 
October 31, 1897, leaving one son, Guy, 
who is attending the Tampico schools. 

Since voting for Abraham Lincoln, in 
1864, Mr. Hunter has been a stanch sup- 
porter of the Republican part}' and its prin- 
ciples, but has never cared for official 
honors, though he most creditably served 
as school^ director in his district for some 
years. He is a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal church of Tampico, and is held in 
high regard by all who know him. For the 
success that he has achieved in life he de- 
serves great credit, for it is due entirely to 
his industry, perseverance and good man- 
agement as he started out in life for himself 
in limited circumstances. 



REUBEN M. THOMPSON, a retired 
farmer and honored citizen of Mor- 
rison, Illinois, was born in Salem township, 
Meigs county, Ohio, December 27, 1825, a 
son of Reuben and Phelinda (Kent) Thomp- 
son. The paternal grandfather also bore 
the name of Reuben Thompson. He was a yC 
private in a Vermont regiment in the Revo- 
lutionary war and by trade was a shoe- 
maker, which occupation he followed in 
connection with farming. He removed 
from V'ermont to Steuben county. New 
York, during the boyhood of our subject's 
father, and there made his home for many 
years. Later he spent four years with his 
son in Ohio, after which he returned to New 
York, where his death occurred. 

Reuben Thompson, father of our sub- 



320 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ject,\vas born in the Green Mountain state. 
After completing his education, he worked 
at farming until the war of 1812, when he 
entered the army. After the war he re- 
moved to Meigs county, Ohio, and there 
he made his home for many years. He be- 
came quite well-to-do, owning about four 
hundred acres of land in that county. In 
1839 he came to Illinois, accompanied by 
his sons, Reuben M. and Elisha K., travel- 
ing overland with a four-horse team to 
Whiteside county, and stopping at Jacobs- 
town, Mount Pleasant township, a small 
place, where his brother, Harvey Thomp- 
son, operated a sawmill and gristmill owned 
by Jonathan Haines. Leaving his sons 
here, he and his brother went to Iowa and 
located near what is now Mechanicsville. 
During the following winter they joined 
him and took up a claim there. In 1841 
they returned to this county, where our sub- 
ject operated the Charles Clark farm on the 
shares for one season, receiving one-fourth 
of the produce. On the father's return to 
Whiteside county from Iowa, he bought a 
claim of William L. Clark and then went 
back to Ohio, where the remainder of his 
family were still living. Bringing them to 
this state, he lived upon his first claim for 
a few years, and then removed to another 
in Fenton township, a half mile from the 
first, upon which he made his home until 
his death in the spring of 1S50. At that 
time he had between four and five hundred 
acres of land in this county. His first wife 
died in 1827. Of the five children born to 
them, four reached manhood, namely: 
Elisha K. , Samuel A., Reuben M. and 
James I. For his second wife he married 
Mrs. Hettie (McMillen) Robinson, widow of 
Fain Robinson, who died leaving three chil- 
dren. By the second union there were nine 



children, three sons and six daughters. The 
mother of these died at the home of her 
youngest daughter, Mrs. Helen Pace, at 
Lorhville, Iowa, July 2, 1883. 

Our- subject grew to manhood in this 
county, receiving but a limited education. 
He attended school for three months in 
Erie, his teacher being Horace B. Cole, but 
the greater part of his knowledge has been 
acquired by reading and observation. He 
remained with his father until twenty-one 
years of age, and then worked for Eli Upton 
for two years, at one hundred and fifty dol- 
lars per year. At the time of his marriage, 
in 1849, he owned fifteen acres of land to 
which he gradually added as his financial 
resources permitted until he had over two 
thousand acres of improved and highl}' cul- 
tivated land in Fenton township, and though 
he has since given some of this to his sons, 
he still owns seventeen hundred acres in 
one body. He gave the greater part of his 
attention to stock raising and feeding, and 
usually shipped from si.K to eight car loads 
a year to the city markets. He was also 
interested in dairying, and for that purpose 
kept about forty cows, and the butter manu- 
factured by him he sold in St. Louis at the 
highest market price. In 1888 he retired 
from active business and moved to Lyndon, 
this county, where he lived for five years, 
and then returned to the old homestead, 
residing with his son-in-law and daughter 
until the spring of 1899, since which time 
he has made his home in Morrison. 

On the 25th of December, 1849, Mr. 
Thompson was united in marriage with Miss 
Matilda S. Dodge, a native of Illinois, and 
a daughter of John and Lydia (Smith) Dodge, 
farming people of Mt. Pleasant township, 
Whiteside county. By this union ten chil- 
dren were born, namely: Esther Phelinda, 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



321 



wife of Lewis Ewing, of Lyndon, Illinois; 
John L. , who is represented elsewhere in 
this volume; James Amassa, who died at the 
age of seven years; Albert L. , whose sketch 
also appears in this volume; Clara, who 
first married Fitz Hubbart, and after his 
death wedded M. I. Fadden, now of Mt. 
Pleasant township; Frank E., who died at 
the age of five jears; Vora, wife of Frank 
Hodge, who resides on the old homestead 
in Fenton township; Leona, wife of John 
Potter, city marshal of Morrison; Matt Ray, 
who married Mattie Duncan and lives in Mt. 
Pleasant township; and H. Clay, who mar- 
ried Amelia Webster, and is now attending 
lectures at Hahnemann Medical College,- 
Chicago. The mother of these children 
died April 20, 1S78, and on August 30, 
1882, Mr. Thompson was again married, 
his second union being with Mrs. Amanda 
White, also a native of Meigs county, Ohio, 
widow of H. P. \\'hite, and daughter of 
William and Nancy (Butler) McMillen. She 
died July 27, 1893. 

In his political views, Mr. Thompson is 
a free silver Democrat, and in early life 
he took quite an active and prominent part 
in local political affairs. He served as col- 
lector of his township the first two years 
after its organization, and has also filled the 
offices of assessor and supervisor. He held 
the latter position during the trying days of 
the Civil war and secured all the men 
needed from the township for military 
service. 



BENJAMIN REED, who after a long 
and well spent life, is now living re- 
tired in Sterling, Illinois, was born in Frank- 
lin county, Pennsylvania, September 11, 
■1822, a son of Michael and Mary (Keyser) 



Reed, also natives of that state. The 
father, who was quite a prosperous and suc- 
cessful farmer, never came west, but died 
in Pennsylvania, in 1852. His wife had 
passed away a few days previous, both dying 
of cholera during the epidemic of that year. 
Of the thirteen children born to them, two 
died in infancy, the others being Isaac, 
Hannah, John, Rebecca, William, Susan, 
Michael, Reuben, Benjamin, Elizabeth and 
Franklin. Those still living are Michael, a 
resident of Chainbersl:)urg, Pennsylvania; 
Elizabeth, widow of Dr. Jacob Benedict and 
also a resident of Chambersburg; and Ben- 
jamin, our subject. 

Benjamin Reed is indebted to the public 
schools of his native county for his educa- 
tional privileges. In early life he learned 
the cabinet maker's trade with John Bush, 
and worked at the same for thirteen years. 
Before leaving Pennsylvania, he was mar- 
ried, February 23, 1842, to Miss Harriet 
Clark, who was born in Franklin county, 
December 6, 1822, a daughter of Samuel 
and Margaret (Grub) Clark, life-long resi- 
dents of Pennsylvania, where the father 
followed the occupation of farming. In 
their family were ten children: Margaret. 
William, Maria, Catherine, Isabella, Harriet, 
Angeline, Athlinda, Samuel and Adam. 
Four of the number are still living, namely: 
Mrs. Angeline Valentine, of Carroll coun- 
ty, Maryland; Mrs. Athlinda Minters, of 
Waynesboro, Pennsylvania; Adam, a resident 
of Maryland; and Mrs. Reed. The father 
of these children died in 1840, the mother 
in 1847. 

For twelve years after his marriage, Mr. 
Reed continued to reside in Pennsylvania, 
working at his trade, but in the spring of 
1854 started for Illinois. He traveled by 
railroad to Freeport, this state, and from 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



there by stage to Sterling. On his arrival 
he purchased one hundred and twenty acres 
of wild prairie land in Hopkins township, 
and commenced immediately to erect build- 
ings thereon and to otherwise improve his 
place. At that time there were few settlers 
between Freeport and Sterling and most of 
the land was still in its primitive condition. 
Later Mr. Reed purchased fourteen acres of 
timber land. He continued to successfully 
engage in general farming and stock raising 
until 1884, when he removed to Emerson 
and four years later to Sterling, where he 
now lives retired from active labor, enjoying 
a well-earned rest. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Reed were born ten 
children, as follows; (i) Ellen, born Octo- 
ber 27, 1843, is the wife of James McDowell, 
who is now operating our subject's farm in 
Hopkins township, and they have five chil- 
dren, Mabel, Edna, Nellie, Mary and Jos- 
ephine. (2) Emma, born June i, 1845, is 
the wife of Joseph Bedner, a grocer of Cedar 
Rapids, Iowa, and they have five children, 
Eva, Gertrude, Catherine, Alice and Anna. 
(3) Frank, born May 7, 1847, died at the 
age of six years and si.x months. (4) George, 
born January 25, 1849, died at the age of 
nine years and si.\ months. (5) Kate, born 
April 13, 1853, is the wife of Joseph Lock- 
hart, who is extensively engaged in the cat- 
tle business in Kansas and there owns seven 
thousand acres of land in one body, besides 
a number of good farms elsewhere. (6) 
John, born May 21, 1855, is engaged in 
farming in Jordan township, this county. 
He married Emma Carolus and they have 
three children, Alice, Ada and Clara. (7) 
Reuben, born August 23, 1858, is a carpen- 
ter of Sterling. He married Barbara Kerr, 
and they have five children, Ethel, Laura, 
Harriet, Ralph and Glenn. (8) Frank, born 



January 20, i86i, is living with his parents 
in Sterling. (9) Clara, twin sister of Frank, 
married Frank Taylor, a tinner and cornice 
maker of Sterling, and they have two chil- 
dren, Benjamin and Helen. (10) Edna, 
born September 18, 1864, is at home. 

Mr. and Mrs. Reed are members of St. 
John's Lutheran church, of Sterling, and 
are highly respected and esteemed by all 
who know them. Since casting his first 
presidential vote for James K. Polk he has 
been a stanch supporter of the Democratic 
party, and while living on his farm he filled 
the office of school director for nine years 
in a most efficient and satisfactory manner. 



JOEL M. BALDWIN, a well-known res- 
ident of Tampico who is now living a 
retired life, is a veteran of the Civil war and 
bears an honorable record for brave service 
in the cause of freedom and union, and in 
the paths of peace he has also won an envi- 
able reputation through the sterling qualities 
which go to the making of a good citizen. 
Mr. Baldwin was born in the town of 
Middlesex, Washington county, Vermont, 
May 5, [834, and is a son of Jacob and 
Elivira C. (Estabrook) Baldwin, also na-^ 
fives of the Green Mountain state, where 
the mother died in 1841. The father after- 
ward married again. In 1858 he removed 
to Bureau county, Illinois, where he pur- 
chased a farm and engaged in agricultural 
pursuits in connection with work at his 
trade of carpentering. Throughout his 
active business life he continued to follow 
the latter occupation, but is now living re- 
tired in Piano, IlHnois, a hale and hearty 
old man of ninety-three years. 

On leaving his native state, at the age of 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



323 



fifteen years, Joel M. Baldwin went to 
Massachusetts where he worked in woolen 
and cotton factories until 1858, when he 
joined his father in Bureau county, Illinois, 
and turned his attention to agricultural pur- 
suits, it being his first experience in farming. 
He continued to follow that occupation 
until after the outbreak of the Civil war. 
In the fall of 1S61 he joined Company B, 
Sixty-fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and 
was a member of the First Battalion, known 
as Yates Sharp Shooters. He was made 
musician of the regiment, and with the Army 
of the Cumberland took part in the battles 
of New Madrid, Missouri; Island No. 10; 
Fort Pillow; Shiloh; Farmington; the en- 
gagements around Corinth, and the battle 
of luka. In the last named engagement- 
Mr. Baldwin was seriously injured by a shell 
striking his hips and back, causing paralysis 
of the limbs and body, from which he has 
never recovered. He lay in the hospital 
until honorably discharged in the fall of 
1862, when he was honorably discharged 
and returned to his home in Bureau county. 
He was brave and fearless in time of battle, 
was always found in the front rank, and up 
to the battle of luka lost no time from sick- 
ness or other causes. 

For two years after his discharge, Mr. 
Baldwin remained in Bureau county, and 
then went to Jefferson county. New York, 
where he made his home for twenty-seven 
years, while holding the responsible posi- 
tion of superintendent in a woolen factory. 
In the fall of 1885 he returned to Illinois 
and this time located in Whiteside county, 
where he bought a farm for his son. After 
living upon that place for seven years he 
purchased residence property in the village 
of Tampico, where he has since made his 
home. He now receives a pension of sev- 



enty-two dollars per month from the gov- 
ernment. 

During his residence in Massachusetts, 
Mr. Baldwin was married, in the fall of 
1853, to Miss Orpha Jane Bigelow, who 
was born, reared and educated in that state, 
a daughter of Foster Bigelow. She died in 
Tampico, in February, 1895. Four chil- 
dren were born to them, namely: Mary Jane, 
at home; William J., a business man of 
Watertown, New York; Frank H., who 
owns a farm in this county, but now resides 
in California, where he is engaged in fruit 
growing; and Lizzie, wife of Jesse Fairing- 
ton, of Tampico, by whom she has a little 
son, Arthur Wayne, now two years old. 
Mr. Baldwin was again married, in Prince- 
ton, Bureau county, Illinois, in November, 
1896, his second union being with Miss 
Ellen Jones, who was born in Kentucky 
but was reared in Illinois. Her father, Sim- 
eon Jones, spent his last days in Kentucky. 

Mr. Baldwin cast his first presidential 
vote for Abraham Lincoln, in i860, and 
has since been a stanch supporter of the 
Republican party. He served as asses- 
sor in Bureau county prior to the Civil war, 
but has never cared for the honors or emol- 
uments of public office. Fraternally he is 
a member of Tampico post, G. A. R. He 
uses neither liquor or tobacco, and in many 
respects his life is well worthy of emulation, 
and he has the esteem and respect of all 
who know him. 



JOHN COONEY, residing on section 29, 
Hahnaman township, is one of the most 
prosperous and successful farmers of White- 
side county. Looking back through the 
vista of the past, we see a friendless boy 
who came to the new world in search of 



324 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



home and fortune; at present we see his 
ambitious dreams realized, and would the 
veil of the future be lifted we would doubt- 
less see an honored old age crowned with 
the respect and veneration which is accorded 
a well-spent life. 

Mr. Cooney is a native of Ireland, and 
when a young man of eighteen years he 
came to the United States, landing in New 
York, April i, i860. He went first to 
Massachusetts, where he worked by the 
month on a farm for two summers, and 
then engaged in steamboating on Long 
Island Sound for several years, being in 
one employ the entire time. Coming west 
in 1868, he settled in Whiteside county, 
Illinois, and in Hahnaman township bought 
between three and four hundred acres of 
wild prairie land. After erecting a shanty 
there, he commenced to break, fence, 
ditch and otherwise improve his place. 
Later he sold that farm, and since then has 
bought and sold several different farms. 
About 1884 he purchased the place of two 
hundred and si,\ty-two acres where he now re- 
sides. At that time it was but slightly im- 
proved, but through his untiring efforts it 
has been converted into one of the best 
farms of the township. Besides his place 
he owns another fine farm of one hundred 
and twenty acres, and in the fall of 1899 he 
purchased two hundred acres elsewhere, a 
part of which is in Whiteside county and 
the remainder in Lee county. All are well- 
improved and valuable farms. In connec- 
tion with general farming, Mr. Cooney is also 
engaged in stock raising, and in both occu- 
pations he has met with marked success. 

He has now been a resident of this 
county for over thirty years and he has wit- 
nessed much of its growth and development. 
His life affords an example to the young in 



that he commenced life in the new world 
without money, but having a determination 
to succeed he industriously applied himself 
until he has acquired a fine property and 
comfortable competence. He is well known 
in his community and is highly respected. 



w 



ILLIAM A. VAN OSDOL. When 
after years of long and earnest labor 
in some honorable field of business, a man 
puts aside all cares to spend his remaining 
years in the enjoyment of the fruits of for- 
mer toil, it is certainly a well deserved re- 
ward of his former industry. 

" How blest is he who crowns in shades 
like these 
A youth of labor with an age of ease," 

wrote the poet, and the world everywhere 
recognizes the justice of a season of rest 
following an active period of business life. 
Mr. Van Osdol is now living retired in Mor- 
rison, and his history is one that shows the 
accomplishment of well-directed labor. 

He was born in Ohio county, Indiana. 
August 17, 1827, a son of John and Nancj' 
(Gibson) Van Osdol, the former a native of 
Fayette county, Pennsylvania, the latter of 
West Virginia. The maternal grandfather, 
James Gibson, was a planter of West Virginia, 
and from that state removed to Dearborn 
county, Indiana, in 181 3, sailing down 
the Ohio river on a flatboat. He was 
one of the pioneers of that county, and upon 
the land which he took up from the govern- 
ment he spent his remaining days. One of 
his grandsons now occupies the old home- 
stead. His nephew, William Gibson, son of 
Robert Gibson, was a soldier of the war of 
I 81 2, and participated in the battle of New 




WILLIAM A. VAN OSDOL. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



327 



Orleans. Of his eleven children, Mrs. Van 
Osdol, mother of our subject, was the fourth 
in order of birth. Our subject's paternal 
grandparents were Benjamin and Rebecca 
(Reece) Van Osdol, natives of Pennsylvania, 
where the family was founded at an early 
date in the history of this country. Benja- 
min Van Osdol and family removed to In- 
diana in 1820. The grandfather followed 
carpentering as a life work and died at the 
age of seventy-five years. In his family 
were four children who reached years of 
maturity, namely: John, Nathan, Jane and 
Polly, all now deceased. 

John Van Osdol, father of our subject, 
was also a carpenter by trade and an excel- 
lent farmer. After his marriage he pur- 
chased eighty acres of land of his father-in- 
law, James Gibson; moved on the home farm 
in 1830. Later he added to it a forty-acre 
tract, making a farm of one hundred and 
twenty acres of timberland, which he cleared 
and improved. Upon that place he died in 
1870, at the age of sixty-five years, but 
his wife is still living on the old home- 
stead in Cass township, Ohio countj', In- 
diana, and although ninety-two years of 
age she enjoys good health and is in full 
possession of her mental faculties. Eleven 
children were born to them, namely: Will- 
iam, Sarah, Harriet, James, Nathan, Mar- 
garet, Catherine, Rachel, Rebecca Jane, 
Clarissa and Nancy. Of these Sarah, 
Harriet, Margaret and Catherine are now 
deceased. 

Our subject was educated in the schools 
of Ohio county, Indiana, paying seventy-five 
cents a (]uarter for his tuition, and he well 
remembers how he hated to attend school 
when a little lad. When his school days 
were over he became interested in huckster- 
ing, and in that business traveled over a 



circuit of forty miles. In 1849 he purchased 
a general store in Aberdeen, Ohio county, 
which he conducted until coming west in 
October, 1854. He traveled by way of 
Chicago and Rockford, and from the latter 
place walked to Sterling, looking over the 
land in search of a suitable location. He 
bought one hundred and sixty acres of land 
in Hopkins township, Whiteside county, for 
which he paid three dollars per acre, and 
then returned to Indiana. He sold his store 
in 1855 and in February, 1856, again came 
to this county in company with his cousin, 
James Kittle, making the journey with a sled 
and farm horses. On arriving here he un- 
loaded his movable goods and returned for 
his family, which then consisted of his wife 
and one child. His first home was a rude 
shanty, 12 x 16 feet, in which they lived for 
a number of months, and it was then re- 
placed by a more commodious and substan- 
tial residence. In early days the neighbors 
were so scarce and the country so unsettled 
that when he was handling the first load of 
lumber, with which to build a shanty, he un- 
loaded it about forty rods from his own tract. 
On the 19th of November, 1850, Mr. 
Van Osdol married Miss Rebecca Turner, a 
native of Pennsylvania, and a daughter of 
Robert Turner, a farmer of Dearborn coun- 
ty, Indiana. She was the sixth in order of 
birth in a family of eight children, of whom 
only one is now living. She died February 
5, 1885, and was laid to rest in the Morri- 
son cemetery. Six children were born of 
that union, namely: John died at the age 
of fifteen years; Sarah died at the age of 
five months; Sylvanus, who is now employed 
in the postoilice at Helena, Montana, mar- 
ried Margaret Cole and they have four chil- 
dren; Ida M. is the wife of C. M. Fleming, 
a farmer of Dickinson county, Iowa, and 



328 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



they have four children; Robert R. , also a 
farmer and stock raiser of Dickinson county, 
Iowa, married Tillie Hannawalt; and Frank 
is paying teller in the First National Bank 
of Morrison. 

Mr. Van Osdol was again married No- 
vember 15, 1886, his second union being 
with Mrs. Isabella (McArthur) Morrison, 
widow of John Morrison, of Scotland. She 
was born in Argleshire, Scotland, February 
iS, 1850, a daughter of John and Catherine 
(Campbell) McArthur, both natives of the 
highlands of Scotland. The father followed 
the sea for over forty years, was captain of 
a vessel and was one of the best navigators 
sailing from Clyde. He is now living re- 
tired with his wife in Glasgow, Scotland. 
During the World's Fair, in 1893, they 
came to America, sailing from the river 
Clyde, and lived for three years with 
our subject and wife, and then returned to 
his native land, as he could not become ac- 
customed to this country. Of his eight 
children four are still living: Mrs. Catherine 
Hayes, of Glasgow, Scotland; Mrs. Joan 
Holeman, of Eagle Grove, Iowa; Isabella, 
wife of our subject, and Mrs. Mary Neil, of 
New South Wales, Australia. After her 
first marriage Mrs. Van Osdol came with 
her husband to America and located in Chi- 
cago before the great fire in October, 1S71, 
had ceased burning. Mr. Morrison was a 
confectioner and baker by trade, and fol- 
lowed those occupations both in Scotland 
and in this country. By her first marriage 
Mrs. \'an Osdol had four children who are 
still living: Catherine is the wife of Dr. 
-Arthur McGugan, who is a member of the 
medical staff of the asylum at Kalamazoo, 
Michigan, and has charge of the female de- 
partment; John married Lydia Kennedy, 
and is engaged in the butcher business in 



Morrison, Illinois; Mary is the wife of W. 
R. Marsh, a merchant of Manson, Iowa, 
and Isabella is the wife of Edward McFad- 
den, a miner of Bisbee, Arizona. By his 
second marriage Mr. Van Osdol has had 
two children: Arthur Stuart, who is now at- 
tending school in Morrison; and Marguerite, 
who died at the age of five years, five 
months and twenty-six days, and was buried 
in the Morrison cemetery. 

While residing on his farm Mr. Van 
Osdol gave particular attention to stock 
raising and brought the first Poland-China 
hogs into Whiteside county. He kept from 
fifty to two hundred sheep upon his place, 
and also fed cattle and hogs for market, 
shipping annually two or three carloads of 
cattle and about the same amount of hogs. 
For twenty years he was a breeder of short 
horn cattle, and had the finest herd of the 
same in his locality. He exhibited his 
stock at the first fair held in Whiteside 
county, and up to within a few years ago 
some of his stock was on exhibition at the 
fairs in Sterling and Morrison for forty con- 
secutive years. To his original farm of one 
hundred and sixty acres he added until he 
has three hundred and eighty-five acres in 
Hopkins township under a high state of cul- 
tivation and well improved. He also has 
one hundred and sixty acres of land in 
South Dakota. In 1861 Mr. Van Osdol 
sold a carload of corn in Chicago for twenty 
cents per bushel, costing him, however, 
ten cents per bushel to market it, but kept 
the remainder of his crop until 1864, when 
he was able to sell it in the city of Sterling 
for one dollar and twenty cents per bushel. 
He still has the receipts of this sale. In 
November, 1892, he removed to Morrison, 
and has since lived retired from active 
labor, enjoying a well-earned rest. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



329 



Politically Mr. Van Osdol has been a 
life-long Democrat, and was the first to 
vote that ticket in Hopkins township. One 
night, in i860, while going along the road, 
he saw a light in the school house, and on 
entering found two Republican speakers with 
no audience but himself, and he was a stanch 
Democrat. Fraternally he is a member of 
Dunlap lodge. No. 32 1 , F. & A. M. , of Mor- 
rison, while his estimable wife holds mem- 
bership in the Presbyterian church. In No- 
vember, I 886, they sailed for Scotland, and 
remained abroad until the following March, 
visiting Mrs. \'an Osdol's parents, and 
many points of interest in both Scotland 
and England. They are well known and 
highly respected and have a host of warm 
friends in Whiteside county who esteem 
them highly for their sterling worth and 
many excellencies of character. 



ANTHONY AMOS JAMES. This hon- 
ored citizen of Morrison, Whiteside 
count}', has been retired from actual busi- 
ness life only a few years and has a record 
of unusual success. Owing to well directed 
energy he has been successful in all his finan- 
cial ventures, and in the evening time of 
life is in possession of a competency. He 
enjoys the respect and genuine esteem of 
all who know him, owing to the fact that 
in all his dealings he has been upright and 
just. 

Born in Mount Pleasant township, 
Whiteside county, August 26, 1837, A. A. 
James is a son of George O. and Margaret 
M. (Thomas) James, who were pioneers of 
this county. The father was a native of 
Ashe count}', North Carolina, his birth hav- 
ing occurred April 14, 1806, while it is be- 
lieved that the mother was from South Car- 



olina, and a daughter of Anthony M. Thoinas, 
who settled in Morgan county, Illinois, at 
an early day and later came to Whiteside 
county. George O. James was a son of 
George and Elizabeth James, of German 
and English descent respectively. The for- 
mer emigrated from the fatherland to North 
Carolina and later went to Kentucky when 
George O. James was young. The latter 
at the age of eighteen years removed with 
the family to Morgan county, Illinois, where 
they were among the earliest settlers. He 
received very limited educational advantages, 
probably attending school not more than 
si.xty days in his life. Upon arriving in this 
county he took up a tract of government 
land, to which he added from time to time 
until his property comprised two hundred 
acres. He was a successful farmer and was 
actively engaged in his chosen vocation 
until shortly before his death, which event 
occurred May 16, 1892, when he was in his 
eighty-seventh year. 

The first wife of George O. James bore 
the maiden name of Elizabeth Featherkile, 
and their marriage took place November i, 
1830. Their only child, William Silas, is a 
successful farmer of Fenton, Whiteside 
county. After the death of his first wife, 
Mr. James married Margaret M. Thomas, 
as previously mentioned, and to them were 
born four children, of whom Anthony \. is 
the eldest. Elizabeth is the widow of H. 

D. Smith, of Story county, Iowa. Adam 

E. died in February, 1892, in Greenwich, 
New York, at the age of fifty years. Anna 
Louisa is the wife of |ohn Little, a farmer 
and stock raiser of Huron, South Dakota. 
The mother of tlrese children was summoned 
to her reward January 23. 1868, when in 
her sixty-second year. Mr. James is sur- 
vived by his third wife, Mrs. Jane (Mecum) 



330 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



James, who died in September, 1899. 
Their marriage was solemnized on the 6th 
of January, 1870. 

Anthony A. James was reared on a farm 
and attended a school which was kept in a 
dwelling house owned by Samuel Finch. 
This school was conducted on the subscrip- 
tion plan, the teacher being a daughter of 
Mr. Fiuch. The first public school which 
our subject attended was the one known as 
the Jackson school, the first built in this 
neighborhood. Before reaching his major- 
it}' Mr. Ja'iies had become thoroughly fa- 
miliar with farming and had been employed, 
to some, extent, by neighbors here, and in 
Dunn county, Wisconsin. In the fall of 
1857, he purchased eighty acres of land on 
section 34, Clyde township, Whiteside coun- 
ty, about half of this land having been 
broken, but no other improvement made 
upon the place. In the spring of 1858 Mr. 
James erected a small frame house in which 
his family resided for a number of years. 
At various times he made additions to the 
house and in 1882 built what is considered 
one of the finest country homes in the town- 
ship. .\s opportunity offered he added to 
his original farm until it now comprises five 
hundred and twenty-five acres, all of which 
is in Clyde township, with the e.sception of 
twenty acres of timber land located in Mount 
Pleasant township. This property, which 
is divided into three farms, is now under 
the management of the three sons of the 
owner. For years he had been engaged ex- 
tensively in feeding and shipping live stock, 
and besides disposing of large nun:bers of 
hogs, he ships two car loads of cattle to the 
city market each year, and in this line alone 
has made a good income. 

In 1857 the marriage of Mr. James and 
Miss Ann Norrish was celebrated in Dunn 



county, Wisconsin. Eight children blessed 
their union, one dying in infancy, and the 
others being as follows: Elizabeth A., wife 
of Seth W. Hurlburt, of Sterling; Samuel 
N., who married Agnes Wells, and has four 
children, two of them deceased; Porteus, 
who died at the age of thirty-three years; 
Robert S. , of Clyde township, whose wife 
was formerly Rose Thomas, and who has 
one child; George O., who married Emma 
Hicks, and has two children; Adam C. ; 
and Lillie A., wife of C. F. Reynolds, a 
farmer of Mount Pleasant township, and 
mother of two children. Samuel N., who 
managed one of his father's farms in Clyde 
township, also owns a tract of land, and 
George O. and Adam C. carry on the other 
farms previously mentioned as being the 
property of our subject. 

In former years Mr. James was an ar- 
dent supporter of the Democratic party, but 
in 1896, owing to the issues of the hour, 
he had the courage to vote in harmony with 
his convictions, his ballot being deposited 
for William McKinley. A true friend of 
education, he served as a school director 
for some twenty years. He also officiated 
as a road commissioner for a period of four 
years, and in various ways has shown the 
interest which he has always felt in local 
improvements. For a number of years he 
has been a devoted adherent to the Presby- 
terian church and has contributed liberally 
to religious and benevolent enterprises. 



JOHN PECK, who is successfully engaged 
in business in Sterling as a dealer in 
lumber, coal, salt, lime and cement, and 
also owns and operates a planing mill, has 
the distinction of having won the proud 
American title of a self-made man. His 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



33' 



energy, determination and good business 
ability have enabled him to overcome all 
the difficulties and obstacles in his path and 
work his way upward to prosperit}'. He is 
known among his fellow townsmen for his 
reliability in all trade transactions and just- 
ly merits their confidence and regard. 

Mr. Peck was born in Fayette county, 
Pennsylvania, January 12, 1S45, ^ son of 
John and Mary (Kirkpatrick) Peck, the 
former a native of Pennsylvania, the latter 
of Scotland. Our subject was educated in 
the schools of his native countj', and en- 
gaged in farming with his father until after 
the Civil war broke out. Although only 
sixteen years of age, he enlisted, May 12, 
1862, in the Fifth Ohio Cavalry, which was 
mustered in at Columbus, Ohio. With this 
regiment he wasstationed in the mountains of 
West Virginia most of the time, doing guard 
and provost duty until mustered out in the 
winter of 1 863-4. Later he re-enlisted in the 
Thirteenth Ohio Cavalry, and was mustered 
into the United States service at Columbus, 
December 25, 1863. They joined the Army 
of the Potomac just before the battle of the 
Wilderness, was all through that campaign, 
and participated in the battles of Spottsyl- 
vania, Cold Harbor, Old Church Tavern, 
and the assault on Petersburg. Crossing 
the James river, thej' took part in the siege 
of Petersburg and also the engagement 
around that stronghold, were in the Weldon 
Railroad raid, and the campaigns from the 
Kappadan to the James and from the James 
to the Appomattox, where Lee finally sur- 
rendered. Mr. Peck was wounded, or rather 
crushed in the rebel mine at Petersburg, be- 
ing in the explosion of the fort, July 30, 1864. 
He was on detached duty at Petersburg, at 
the time of the grand review in Washington, 
D. C, and so was unable to participate in 



that military pageant. He was mustered 
out at Amelia Court House, Virginia, July 
4, 1865, and finally discharged on the 28th 
of the same month. 

Returning to civil life, Mr. Peck worked 
as a farm hand by the month in Muskingum 
county, Ohio, for a time. On the ist of 
November, 1866, he was united in marriage 
with Miss Susan Quigley, a native of Ohio, 
and a daughter of Timothy Quiglej'. To 
them were born five children, as follows: 
Ollie, who resides at home and has success- 
fully engaged in teaching in the primary and 
high school of Franklin Grove, Illinois; 
Charles O., who died at the age of two 
years and a half; Laura, who is now teach- 
ing school in New Harmony, Indiana; Roy, 
who is bookkeeper for his father; and Lillian, 
a teacher in the second ward school of Ster- 
ling. 

On the ist day of March, 1867, Mr. 
Peck arrived in Sterling, Illinois, and upon 
rented land he engaged in farming in 
Genesee township for seven years. He then 
removed to Sterling and entered the employ 
of Golden & Dillon, dealers in lumber and 
coal, with whom he remained for twelve 
years. On the ist of .April, 1886, he em- 
barked in his present business on a small 
scale, but has gradually increased his busi- 
ness to meet the growing demands of his 
trade. In 1893 he purchased a mill, which 
he now operates in connection with his 
other business. He is a wide-awade, ener- 
getic business man, and in his undertakings 
is now meeting with well deserved success. 
In politics he is independent, voting for 
whom he considers the best man, regardless 
of party ties. Socially he is an honored 
member of William Robinson post. No. 274, 
G. A. R., ^nd religiously he is a member of 
the Congregational church. 



332 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ELHANAN C. WINTERS. In time to 
come this volume will acquire added 
value as a repository of records whose his- 
torical significance will then be fully appre- 
ciated, but readers will doubtless peruse 
with special interest the stories of gallant 
service in that great struggle which settled 
once for all that this nation is, in truth, 
"one and indivisible." It has often been 
said that the letters sent home during the 
war by the soldiers of all grades would 
make, if published, a better history of the 
war than has yet been given, and the sug- 
gestive views of the conflict in the individ- 
ual e.xperiences contained in this book cer- 
tainly give new color to many a historic 
scene. 

Among the gallant defenders of the 
Union from this state was Mr. Winters, 
now a well-known real-estate dealer of Rock 
Falls. He was born in Bedford, Indiana, 
September i8, 1843, and comes of a very 
patriotic and loyal family, five generations 
of which have been represented in the wars 
of this country. His great-grandfather was 
killed at the battle of Bunker Hill during 
the Revolution; his grandfather was a sol- 
dier in the war of 1812; his father of the 
Mexican war; himself of the Civil war; and 
his son of our recent war with Spain. 

On the 7th of August, 1861, Mr. Win- 
ters enlisted in Company A, Thirty-fourth 
Illinois Volunteer Infantry, at Sterling, and 
was mustered into the United States service 
at Camp Butler, Springfield, September 7, 
1 86 1. They joined Sherman's army at 
Camp Nevans, near Elizabethtown, I\en- 
tucky, October 15, 1861, and after remain- 
ing there one month moved to Munfords- 
ville, where they went into winter quarters. 
In February, 1862, they were ordered to 
join Grant at Fort Donelson, but not reach- 



ing there in time to participate in the bat- 
tle, proceeded to Nashville, being among 
the first troops to arrive there. Later they 
joined Grant's army at Pittsburg Landing, 
and in the battle at that place the regiment 
lost one hundred and twenty-nine men in 
killed and wounded. The command partic- 
ipated in the siege of Corinth during the 
following May and June until its evacuation, 
and then went to Tuscumbia, luka, Huntsville 
and Battle Creek, resting at the last named 
place a month. In the memorable cam- 
paign and battles that followed, Mr. Win- 
ters acquitted himself with honor, as the his- 
tory of the regiment shows and furnishes a 
detailed account of the same. He was pro- 
moted from corporal to sergeant. He took 
part in the battles of Lookout Mountain, 
Missionary Ridge, Resaca, Rome, Peach 
Tree Creek, Atlanta, Jonesboro, and the 
engagements in Georgia and the Qarolinas, 
and when the war ended participated in the 
grand review at Washington, D. C, May 
24, 1865. He was mustered out at Louis- 
ville, Iventucky, July 12, 1865, and finally 
discharged at Chicago, July 17, 1865, as 
first sergeant, after having served three 
years and eleven months. 

Returning to his home in Carroll county, 
Illinois, Mr. Winters engaged in farming 
there until 1876. On the 20th of Decem- 
ber, 1866, he was united in marriage with 
Miss Paulina Scoville, a daughter of James 
and Elizabeth (Hills) Scoville, whose sketch 
is given on another page of this work. To 
our subject and his wife were born four chil- 
dren, of whom Wayne C. , the eldest, died 
at the age of five years. James C, a resi- 
dent of Sterling, is business manager for 
the Sterling Standard. He married Ethel 
Follette, who died in 1894, and for his sec- 
ond wife he married Eva Montague, by 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



333 



whom he had one child, now deceased. 
Alice M. is the wife of Robert B. McNeil, 
who served as a non-commissioned officer 
in Company E, Sixth Illinois Volunteers, in 
the war with Spain. He is now reporter 
for the Sterling Standard and a resident of 
Rock Falls. They have three children — 
Wayne, Althea and Dorothea. Carl, a com- 
positor in the office of the Sterling Herald, 
was a member of Company E, Si.xth Illinois 
Volunteer Infantry, during the war with 
Spain, and was one of the first to land at 
Porto Rico. 

For two years after leaving the farm, in 
1876, Mr. Winters was city salesman for 
the firm of Gait & Emmett, dealers in farm 
machinery in Sterling. He was then en- 
gaged in the agricultural implement busi- 
ness on his own account at Coleta until 
October, 1880. Having sustained painful 
and serious injuries by a fall from a wind- 
mill tower, he was unable to engage in any 
business for a year. He then sold his busi- 
ness in Coleta and went on the road as 
traveling salesman for the Northwestern 
Barb Wire Company, of Sterling, for three 
years, the Barnes Manufacturing Company, 
of Freeport, two years, and for Sickles & 
Preston, a wholesale hardware firm of 
Davenport, Iowa, for two years. In 1890 
he located in Rock Falls, and has since en- 
gaged in the real estate, loan and insurance 
business, with good success. He has also 
been very successful as a United States pen- 
sion claim agent. 

In politics Mr. Winters is a Republican, 
and is at present secretary of the county 
central committee. He has served as jus- 
tice of the peace for nine 3'ears, and city 
clerk of Rock Falls for the past seven years, 
being the present incumbent of both offices. 
He is an earnest member of the Methodist 



Episcopal church, and is held in high regard 
by all who know him. He is also an hon- 
ored member of Will Enderton post. No. 
729, G. A. R., was its first adjutant, served 
as commander one term, and is serving his 
third term as chaplain. 



CHARLES LE ROY CASE, who is now 
successfully engaged in business in Erie, 
Illinois, was born in Erie, Whiteside county, 
Illinois. August 5, 1850, and is a son of Charles 
W. and Margaret (Nicholas) Case, natives 
of New York state. Charles W. Case came 
to Illinois when a young man and settled in 
Fenton township, Whiteside county, where 
he followed farming for many years. In 
1848 he was united in marriage with Miss 
Margaret Nicholas, and to them were born 
four children, of whom our subject is the, 
eldest; Mary Elizabeth is now the wife of 
Judson Passmore, of Rock Island; Stewart 
E. is a resident of Iowa; and Ira L. is a 
farmer of Iowa. The father enlisted in the 
Seventy-fifth Illinois Regiment in the Civil 
war and was wounded October 8, 1862, at 
Perryville, Kentucky, and died from the 
effects November 12, 1862, and was buried 
at Louisville, Kentucky. The mother is 
still living, and makes her home in Erie. 

The subject of this sketch was reared 
and educated in much the usual manner of 
farmers boys of his day, and on the loth of 
October, 1871, he was united in marriage 
with Miss Anna Meek, a daughter of Will- 
iam Meek, a farmer of Fenton township. 
They have become the parents of three 
children, namely; Addie, now the wife of 
Fred Burfiend; James, deceased; and Mag- 
gie, at home. 

After his marriage, Mr. Case located in 
Fenton township, where he engaged in 



334 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



farming, and later followed the same pur- 
suit, first in Portland and subsequently in 
Erie townships. In 1895, he removed to 
the village of Erie and opened a business, 
which he has since successfully conducted. 
Politically he is identified with the Demo- 
cratic party, but has never been an office 
seeker. Socially he affiliates with the 
Knights of Pythias and the Masonic order. 



GEORGE STEPHEN TRACY. The 
world is full of heroes, men of ability 
and renown, men who have left the impress 
of their mind and character upon the times. 
Every nation, state, county and city have 
their leading men, those to whom they look 
for example and counsel. Some men exert 
an influence because of their eloquence in 
the pulpit or on the platform, some because 
of their strong will, others because of ex- 
traordinary business ability, and some from 
the fact that every action of their lives are 
such as to show their love for their fellow 
men, and their desire to do them good. Be- 
cause of the two latter attributes the subject 
of this sketch has left his impress upon the 
community which was so long his home, 
where the people always delighted to do 
him honor, and where his memory will ever 
be cherished by those who knew him in life, 
and who will take delight in teaching his 
virtues to coming generations. 

George S. Tracy comes of good old Mas- 
sachusetts stock. He was born in Norwich, 
Hampshire county, that state, June 28, 
1829, and was the son of John and Betsy 
(Dimock) Tracy. From his father George 
learned the trade of carpenter and builder, 
at which he worked until he was sixteen 
years old, in the meantime securing a good 
common-school education. He then left his 



mountain home and located in Newark, 
New Jersey, where he engaged in the nur- 
sery business, in which he continued for two 
years. At that time there was great excite- 
ment throughout the country in consequence 
of the discovery of gold in California, a ter- 
ritor)' which had then but lately been ac- 
quired from Mexico. Like thousands of 
others he felt the desire to make his fortune 
in that new Eldorado. Taking passage on 
a vessel, by way of Cape Horn, he made 
the trip, and for one year and a half after 
his arrival he was engaged in mining, but 
with indifferent success. Somewhat disap- 
pointed at his failure to secure the coveted 
fortune with the aid of shovel and pick, he 
determined to leave the country and try to 
better himself in South America. For five 
years he remained in Chili and Peru, en- 
gaged in the construction of a railroad, after 
which he returned to California and resumed 
his mining operations for a year and a half, 
when he again threw the unsatisfactory work 
aside, and took his way back to his old Mas- 
sachusetts home. 

Massachusetts, on his return, was not 
as it had seemed to him in his youth, and 
he was not satisfied there to remain. Ac- 
cordingly, in 1857, Mr. Tracy came to 
Whiteside county and located in Sterling, 
where he engaged in business with Cook & 
Co. in the manufacture of sash, doors and 
blinds, and continued in that relation until 
1863, when he formed a partnership with 
Thomas A. Gait, and under the firm name 
of Gait & Tracy, a general manufacturing 
business was established. The business of 
the firm increased with remarkable rapidity. 
In 1867, however, it met with a severe loss 
by fire, the entire plant being destroyed, en- 
tailing a loss of thirty thousand dollars. 
The firm was not discouraged by its great 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



335 



loss, but with the energy that characterized 
their every movement they went to work 
and soon had erected buildings far better 
than those lost by the fire. There is 
an old saying " that nothing succeeds like 
success." The fact of the firm rebuilding in 
so short a time gained for it the increased 
confidence of the trade and the people gen- 
erally, and orders poured in on them in 
such numbers that even the increased ca- 
pacity of the new buildings was entirely two 
small, necessitating the enlargement of the 
plant. A more spacious location was de- 
manded, and the firm secured the necessarj' 
ground on the south side of the river, and 
erected their buildings in what is now the 
city of Rock Falls. 

On the removal of the business to the 
south side of the river, the firm secured 
articles of incorporation under the firm 
name of the Keystone Manufacturing Com- 
pany, since which time the business has 
been carried on under that name. Mr. Gait 
was elected president and Mr. Tracy vice- 
president and genera! manager of the con- 
structive department of the company. He 
gave the company his best efforts, and, with 
remarkable executive ability, he soon had 
an enterprise under way of great multitude 
and second to none in the west. While the 
Keystone Manufacturing Company required 
the greater part of his time, he was yet in- 
terested in other manufacturing enterprises 
in Sterling and vicinity, and was instru- 
mental in securing the location and the 
building up of some of the most important 
manufactories in his adopted city. He was 
also a member of the banking firm of Gait 
& Tracy, and in connection with Mr. Gait 
erected the Academy of Music in Sterling. 

On the 7th of September, 1863, Mr. 
Tracy was united in marriage with Miss 

19 



Helen M. Hosmer, daughter of Nathaniel 
and EWzR Hosmer, of Camden, Maine. 
Three children came to bless this union: 
Susan, now the wife of E. G. Church: 
Frank and Edith. 

On the 6th of May, 1891, Mr. Tracy 
passed to his reward, and it is safe to say 
that the death of no man in Sterling ever 
was more deeply felt, or the community 
more greatly shocked. He was a man that 
old and young, rich and poor, greatly es- 
teemed and loved. His life was a benedic- 
tion to all, and his enemies were unknown, 
or few indeed. During his funeral, the 
business houses of both Sterling and Rock 
Falls were generally closed, mills and manu- 
factories were shut down that the employes 
might tender the last token of respect to 
the memory of one who was ever a friend to 
them. Both cities claimed him as its own. 
The Rock Falls News said: " While Mr. 
Tracy's home was in Sterling, his desk was 
in the Keystone office in Rock Falls, and 
every citizen of our place had confidence in 
him and loved and respected him. Sterl- 
ing, Rock Falls, and all Whiteside county 
feel that his death is their loss." 

The funeral of Mr. Tracy was largely 
attended, many coming from other cities to 
pay tribute to his memory. It was attended 
by the employes of the various factories in 
which Mr. Gait and he were interested, the 
men following the remains to the cemetery 
in a body. Among those represented were 
the Keystone Manufacturing Company, the 
Eureka Manufacturing Company, the Sterl- 
ing Manufacturing Company, the Novelty 
Manufacturing Company, and others. 

In pursuance to call many of the citizens 
of Rock Falls met at the city hall, where 
the following resolutions were unanimously 
adopted: 



336 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



" Whereas, George S. Tracy, vice-presi- 
dent and superintendent of the Keystona 
Manufacturing Company, departed this life 
on Wednesday, May 6th, and has long been 
identified with the growth and business of 
our city, the citizens of Rock Falls, in 
meeting assembled, adopted the following 
as expressive of the estimation in which he 
was held while in life: 

"Resolved, That as a man George S. 
Tracy was the soul of honor, correct in 
every principle, courteous and kind to all 
with whom he came in contact, firm in the 
discharge of every duty, and generous in his 
dealings with all men. His charities were 
such that many a beneficiary knew not to 
whom he was indebted, but the poor and 
needy were never out of his thoughts. He 
took no thought of cost where distress was 
to be relieved. As a manufacturer he 
never forgot that he owed a duty to every 
employe, to the day laborer, the skilled 
mechanic and the oi^ce man. 

''Resolved, That in his death every 
citizen of Rock Falls, without exception 
feel that he has suffered a personal loss 
which he willalways feel cannot be replaced. 

''Resolved, That we tender to his part- 
ners and companions in business our sense 
of the loss of companionship they will never 
fail to realize when they view his vacant 
desk; but our deepest sympathy goes to 
those of the broken family circle, but even 
they have a comfort of knowing that a good 
man has left them with neither spot nor 
blemish on his character. 

" Resolved, That a copy of these reso- 
lutions be furnished the Keystone Manufact- 
uring Company and his bereaved wife for 
preservation, as showing the esteem with 
which George S. Tracy was held by every 
citizen of our place." 



Not content with simply adopting similar 
resolutions a meeting of the citizens of 
Sterling was held, and a committee previous- 
ly appointed, consisting of John G. Mana- 
han, J. F. Piatt, W. A. Sanborn, C. L. 
Sheldon and J. E. McPherran, presented the 
accompanying report: 

' ' To the citizens of Sterling assembled for 
action in reference to the lamented death 
of the late George Stephen Tracy: 

" Your committee, appointed at a pre- 
vious meeting, and directed to report a 
series of suitable resolutions to be presented 
and here adopted as the expression of the 
of this meeting on this occasion, would re- 
spectfully submit for your consideration the 
following: 

"The long residence of Mr. Tracy in 
this city; his activity in business affairs; the 
high esteem in which he was justly held; the 
number of those who enjoyed and valued his 
friendship; the irreparable loss consequent 
upon his death; each and all render it ap- 
propriate that a people with whom he daily 
mingled, and among whom he constantly 
labored, should gather from their ordinary 
avocations and in a public manner mutually 
give expression to their conception of his 
character, and jointly commemorate his 
virtues. 

" When a long and appreciated acquaint- 
ancehas been suddenly andsadly terminated ; 
when a life so conspicuously gentle and so 
beneficently active has suddenly ceased; 
when the genial face of a beloved fellow 
citizen has become rigid in death when the 
hand, responsive alike to the necessities 
of the poor and the salutations of friends, 
no longer reflects the promptings of a gener- 
ous heart; when a familiar and always wel- 
come form is soon to be borne by friendly 
hands to its last resting place; when our 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



33; 



common mother earth is about to receive to 
her bosom one more of her faithful and true 
sons, what more appropriate than that we, 
who i<new him intiniatelj- these many years 
in life, and now deplore his death, should 
thus publicy and collectively make a mutual 
retrospect of that life so lately radiant among 
us, but, now alas, simply enshrined among 
our cherished memories. It was no minor 
privilege to be included within the circle of 
his accquaintance; much more the distinc- 
tion, to be enrolled among his friends. That 
acquaintance and friendship, by an extrane- 
ous and resistless agency, has been with- 
drawn, and we who feel the poignancy of 
the deprivation, may well pause to pour 
into our depleted hearts the balm of grate- 
ful recollection, and to rear upon the grave 
of our fallen friend the pillars of our remem- 
brance of his worth. Impotent in the pres- 
ence of death this much we can do — more 
we cannot — less we would not. 

"Fortunate is this assemblage in the 
fact that the reminiscences, vivified by the 
occasion and circumstances of this meeting, 
are of the most pleasant character--that 
there cannot be one discordant or unpleas- 
ant element connected with the review of 
our personal acquaintance with the deceased, 
and that no encomiums here pronounced, 
however accentuated or exalted, can exceed 
the truth. Mr. Tracy's residence here has 
been so long and continuous, and his life 
so active and observable, that no one present 
can be lacking in the necessary information 
to have formed an estimate of his character, 
or to give or recognize a truthful presenta- 
tion of his reputation. 

"In view of the permanent local devel- 
opment to which he contributed, and of the 
various lines of active industries with which 
he was identified up to the period of his 



decease, it necessarily results that his death 
is a marked and important, as well as a 
lamentable event. Therefore, be it 

" /\rs(>/7'(t/, By this assemblage of his 
acquaintances and friends, that we recogni;?e 
and appreciate the loss to this community 
entailed by his death; that we unitedly bear 
witness to the many pleasant and valued 
mental and moral endowments which con- 
stituted him a pleasant companion, a wise 
counsellor, a good citizen, a firm and stead- 
fast friend, and which made him a most 
active and potent factor in all of our material 
interests; that the evidences of his identifica- 
tion with the progress and development of 
this and our neighboring city are such as to 
remain imperishable monuments to his enter- 
prise, public spirit and patriotic endeavor to 
benefit the community within which the 
greater part of his life was spent; but, that 
the urbanity of his disposition, his equable, 
uniform demeanor, his absolute reliability 
and his social qualities were such as to insure 
the perpetuity of his memory, regardless of 
these visible manifestations of his actual 
work. 

"Resolved, Also, that we desire to, and 
do hereby offer to his stricken famil}- and 
relatives our sincere sympathy in this their 
peculiar and personal bereavement. 

' ' Resolved, Further, that the secretaries 
of this meeting be requested to furnish to 
the family of the deceased, and to the local 
newspapers, copies of these resolutions, and 
of the action of this meeting thereon." 

The Hon. J. E. McPherran presented 
the report and made some personal re- 
marks, after giving a short biographical 
sketch of the deceased. In part he said: 

" Descended from a hardy race, not 
ashamed to work, Mr. Tracy naturally 
sought a vocation wherein chance was not 



338 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



the chief element of success. Patient labor 
and application are as necessary for success 
in business as they are in the pursuit of 
science. The old Greek maxim was: ' To 
become an able man in any profession three 
things are necessary, — nature, study and 
practice.' Lord Melbourne said, 'Mak- 
ing a small provision for young men is of 
all things the most prejudicial to themselves. 
The young should hear this language: It 
depends upon your own exertions whether 
you starve or not.' No 'provision' em- 
barrassed Mr. Tracy's youth, and whatever 
success he achieved in business pursuits, he 
won by his own diligent, patient, and intel- 
ligent devotion to business. He early rec- 
ognized the law that he who would achieve 
success must 'learn to labor and to wait.' 

" His early experience in life made him 
sympathize with those in his employment, 
and enabled him rightly to discriminate be- 
tween merit and dismerit amongst them. 
Hence he grew in favor with them as the 
years passed by. 

" Deliberate in speech, self-possessed un- 
der stress of difficulties, keenly intelligent 
in the lines of business pursued by him, he 
rarely erred in judgment of men or things. 
He was not given to unfriendly criticism of 
his business competitors or his neighbors. 
Without personal or business jealousy, his 
speech was judicious commendation, or it 
was withheld. He was conservative in 
politics; in religion, by inheritance and 
conviction, in accord with the best religious 
thought of the day. His acts, of kindness, 
and they were many, to persons less fortu- 
nate than he, were never published; but his 
grant, in conjunction with Mr. Gait, of ten 
years, free rent to the Sterling Public 
Library, is a part of the records of the 
city. Truthful, manly, and capable, and 



withal public spirited, he filled so large a 
space in business and social interests that 
his loss will be keenly felt by the entire 
community for a long time. 

" He left to mourn his loss, outside of a 
large circle of friends, a devoted wife («<V 
Hosmer) and three children. He was 
buried on the 8th day of May, 1891, at 
Sterling, Illinois. The foreman of the 
Keystone Company served as pall bearers. 
His remains were escorted to the grave 
through streets draped in mourning, by a 
great concourse of citizens. He was laid to 
rest with impressive religious services, in 
which the fragility of human life was con- 
trasted with the immutability of Him in 
whose sight a thousand years are but as a 
watch in the night." 

The Hon. Thomas A. Gait, who for 
twenty-eight years was associated with Mr. 
Tracy in business, said that he wanted to be 
present at the preceding meeting, but so 
crushed was he at the death, equal almost 
to that of a brother, that he was unable to 
attend. "I have always held Mr. Tracy" said 
he, ' ' as dear as an own brother, and knowing 
him so intimately, almost as well as his own 
family, through the association of twenty- 
eight years as a partner, his death to me 
personally is a great blow. Our interests 
were at all times most harmonious, an equal 
and mutual understanding existing. We 
began together in 1863, and during all the 
succeeding years not a jar has made un- 
pleasant our associations. Few husbands 
and wives can compare their own union with 
as happy a result as this our union. In the 
death of Mr. Tracy I lose one near and 
dear and I scarce know how to proceed in 
my efforts without his ever cheering, mas- 
terly assistance. He was a man of excellent 
spirit, never angry, never profane, always 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



339 



pleasant, never an ill word to the most 
humble of his employes, conservative, al- 
ways showing the bright side to the sor- 
rowing. 

"Hegave many evidences of his kindness 
and his friendship was one to be highly 
prized. Mr. Tracy was scrupulously just, 
and not afraid to error, which he invariably 
did. He will not only be missed by me 
personally, but equally missed by the busi- 
ness community. Such men are rare, but 
God in his providence has seen fit to re- 
move him, and a sweet remembrance will 
always remain. His honesty was unquestion- 
able; and willingly at any time would I have 
left in his hands my money or other valu- 
ables, with perfect confidence. I am happy 
to pay this tribute to his memory, I feel as 
thought I have a right to. I will enjoy his 
memory as long as I live." 

Mr. McPherran and Mr. Gait but 
echoed the sentiment of all who know Mr. 
Tracy, and this permanent of him in this 
volume will be prized by all, and his life 
work will certainly be worthy of emulation 
by those who come after him. 



CF. ROYER is a son of Christian and 
Mary (Whitmer) Royer, who were 
born and are still living in Franklin county, 
Pennsylvania. The father's birth occurred 
May 28, 1823, and the mother was born 
March 13, 1824. Their children comprised 
the following-named: Jacob W., George 
A., Christian and David (twms), Cyrus E., 
C. F., Washington, Catherine E., Mary E., 
Alice Grace, Uriah, Ezra and Nathan 
(twins), and Ida Frances, who died at the 
age of four years. The parents have been 
engaged in agricultural pursuits and are 
highly respected citizens in their commun- 



ity. They are great workers in the local 
Baptist church, and Mr. Royer is a Repub- 
lican, politically. 

C. F. Royer was born on the old 
Franklin county homestead June 24, 1856, 
and remained with his parents until he at- 
tained his majority. He then came to the 
west, and for three or four years worked for 
farmers in Whiteside county. In company 
with a brother, he embarked in the stock 
business, in Kansas, and at the end of a 
year went to Iowa, where he was similarly 
engaged. Returning then to Illinois, he 
turned his attention once more to farming, 
and since his marriage has cultivated a fine 
farm of two hundred acres, located on sec- 
tion 7. In addition to this he owns two 
hundred and forty acres of land in Hum- 
boldt county, Iowa. As a stock-raiser, Mr. 
Royer has been especially successful, though 
in each branch of agriculture he has met 
with gratifying financial returns for his 
labors. 

On the 5th of January, 1882, Mr. Royer 
married Clara McCauley, a native of this 
county. She is one of the eight children of 
James S. and Hester (Hanawalt) McCauley, 
natives of Virginia, and early settlers of 
Hopkins township, their arrival here dating 
back to 1853. Their other children are 
named as follows: Marcellus, Nancy C, 
John W., Alice A., Ida R., Willie, and one 
who died in infancy. 

Seven children came to bless the home 
of our subject and wife: Bertha May, born 
January 22, 1883; James C, April 20, 1885; 
Marietta, March 22, 1887; an infant, who 
died at birth, in i88y; Charles Franklin, 
April 14, 1891; Arthur Raymond, June 15, 
1894, and Ida Ruth, August 23, 1896. 
James C. died when in his tenth year, Octo- 
ber 23, 1894. The surviving children are 



340 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



with their parents, the elder ones attending 
the neighborhood school. 

Mr. Royer takes a patriotic interest in 
the public schools, and for several years 
has been a member of the local board of 
directors. During a period of fifteen years 
he has been a director of the \\'hiteside 
County Agricultural Society, and upon vari- 
ous occasions has superintended different 
departments of the county fair. In his po- 
litical affiliations he is a Republican. Re- 
ligiously, he is a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal church, and has served as a trus- 
tee, and as superintendent and teacher in 
the Sunday-school. 



HG. CHAMBERLAIN, a leading citizen 
of Newton township, and a worthy 
representative of the agricultural interests 
of that section of the county, was born in 
New York, April 3, 1824, and is a son of 
B. F. Chamberlain, a native of Connecti- 
cut. In 1849 our subject came to Illinois 
and first located in Rock Island county, 
where he lived for two years. At the end 
of that time he came to this county and 
took up his residence in Newton township. 
After his marriage, in 1852, he purchased 
a fine farm of one hundred and si.xty acres 
on section 24, that township, and to its im- 
provement and cultivation he has since de- 
voted his time and attention with most grat- 
ifying results. Being a thorough and skill- 
ful farmer and a man of good business abil- 
ity, prosperity has attended his efforts and 
he is now quite well-to-do. At one time he 
owned an additional eighty-acre tract, but 
gave this to his son and now owns only the 
original farm. Like most of the farming 
population of the county, he has given con- 
siderable attention to stock raising. 



On the 14th of October, 1852, Mr. 
Chamberlain was united in marriage with 
Miss Susan Walker, who was born in Ohio, 
November 18, 1827, a daughter of David 
and Susan Walker. By this union seven 
children have been born, namely: Eugene 
H., born March 21, 1855; Arthur B., born 
August 27, 1857; Irena, who was born April 
20, i860, and died when quite young; Alice 
M., who was born July 16, 1861. and is 
now the wife of Milton E. Bull; one who 
died in infancy; Lena M., born February 
22, 1867; and Susanna E., who was born 
January 22, 1872, and is now the wife of 
Jacob Odenwald. 

By his ballot Mr. Chamberlain supports 
the men and measures of the Republican 
party, but has never aspired to official hon- 
ors though he takes great interest in the 
national elections. He is a consistent mem- 
ber of the Baptist church, and his well- 
spent and honorable life has gained for him 
the confidence and high regard of all with 
whom he has come in contact either in busi- 
ness or social life. 



JAMES SCOV'ILLE, deceased, was one 
of the prominent pioneers and represen- 
tative citizens of Whiteside county, whose 
last days were spent in retirement in Ster- 
ling. He was born in Washington county, 
New York, February 21, 1810, a son of 
Edward and Susan (Case) Scoville, also na- 
tives of that state. The father followed the 
occupation of farming in New York until 
1841, when he came to Whiteside county, 
Illinois, and took up a tract of one hundred 
and twenty acres of government land in 
Genesee township, upon which he made his 
home until his death. He died, however, 
in Pike county, Illinois, in 1859, being tak- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



341 



en ill while visiting there and never recover- 
ing. His wife had died a few years pre- 
viousl}'. Tiiey were the parents of nine 
children, Paulina, Sanford, James, Stephen, 
Alexander, Sprague, Angeline, Susan and 
Mary Jane, all of whom lived to maturity, 
married and reared families with the excep- 
tion of Sprague, who died at about the age 
of eighteen years. 

The subject of this sketch attended the 
common schools of his native state, and as 
soon as old enough to be of any assistance 
he commenced to aid in the work of the 
farm. On the iith of November, 1832, he 
was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth 
Hills, who was born in Oneida county. New 
York, January 24, 1813, a daughter of Ira 
Sarah Jane (Hurlburt) Hills, both natives 
of Connecticut. In early life her fa- 
ther followed the cooper's trade, but on his 
arrival to New York turned his attention to 
farming. He became a resident of that state 
a few years prior to her birth, and when 
she was four years old he moved to Penn- 
sylvania, purchasing land in Erie county, 
where his death occurred. He was a pros- 
perous and successful man and was highly 
respected by all who knew him. He was 
an officer (captain) in the war of 1812 and 
his services received a land warrant, with 
which he secured land in Ohio, but never 
located thereon. His wife survived him 
about twenty years and died at the home of 
a son in Galesburg, Illinois. In their fami- 
ly were eleven children, of whom seven 
reached man and womanhood, namely: 
Nelson, Riley, Lester, Cynthia, Elizabeth, 
Sarah and Mary Ann. Mrs. Scoville is now 
the only one of this family living. 

After his marriage Mr. Scoville and his 
wife located in Erie county, Pennsylvania, 
where he purchased land from the govern- 



ment and engaged in farming until 1S39, 
when he started overland in a prairie 
schooner for Illinois. After twenty-one 
days spent upon the road he arrived in 
Galesburg, where he remained two months 
and then came to Whiteside county, locat- 
ing in Genesee township on the line be- 
tween Whiteside and Carroll counties. 
Here he took up two hundred acres of wild 
land and from the unbroken prairie he de- 
veloped a fine farm, which he placed under 
a high state of cultivation. His first home 
here was a rude log cabin of two rooms, 
which were utilized as sitting room, parlor, 
kitchen and bed room for two years, when 
a more commodious and better residence 
was erected. This was the home of Mr. 
Scoville and his wife until they left the 
farm and moved to a place near Coleta, 
where he had purchased two hundred acres. 
He finally retired from farming in 1881, 
and took up his residence in Sterling, where 
he died January 29, 1884, honored and re- 
spected by all who knew him. His widow 
now makes her home with her daughter, 
Mrs. Olmsted, in Milledgeville, Illinois. 

To them were born ten children, as fol- 
lows: Ira, a resident of Grundy county, 
Iowa, married Mary J. Bushnell and has 
six children; Mittie, a resident of Sterling, 
is the widow of Edward Millard and has 
four children; Amelia married Benton Har- 
ris, who died leaving four children, and she 
is now the wife of Peter Dull, of Milledge- 
ville; Mary is the wife of John P. Bull, of 
Genesee township, and they have four chil- 
dren; Sarah is the wife of H. T. Healy, of 
Carroll county, and they have twelve chil- 
dren; Paulina is the wife of Elhanan C. 
Winters, of Rock trails, whose sketch is 
given elsewhere in this work; James died at 
the age of four years; Etta is the wife of 



342 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Charles Olmsted, of Milledgeville, and they 
have two children; Emma married William 
Calkins, of Milledgeville, and died at the 
age of thirty-one years, leaving two chil- 
dren; and Ella is the wife of Colonel Bush- 
man, of Genesee township, and they have 
nine children. 

In his political affiliations, Mr. Scoville 
was a strong Republican, and he served as 
school trustee in his district for many years. 
He was a prominent and influential member 
of the Methodist Episcopal church, took an 
active part in all church work, and served 
as steward and class leader the greater part 
of the time. He was very charitable and 
benevolent, always willing to lend a help- 
ing hand to the poor and needy, and gave 
to the support of any religious body. 



CAPTAIN STEPHEN B. HANKS. Prob- 
ably one of the best known citizens of 
Whiteside county is Captain Stephen B. 
Hanks, now living retired in Albany. For 
half a century or more, his connection with 
the river interests have made him a familiar 
figure, not only in this county, but as far 
south as St. Louis and thence north to the 
head waters of navigation on the " father 
waters." 

In tracing the Captain's history it is found 
that he is a native of Kentucky, his birth 
having occurred near Hopkinsville, October 
9, 1826. He is a son of Thomas and Catherine 
(Beck) Hanks, the former of English descent, 
and own brother to Nancy Hanks, the mother 
of President Lincoln. Mr. Hanks was the 
owner of a large plantation and numerous 
slaves in the Blue Grass state,, and was 
highly respected by every one. He died 
when the subject of the sketch was only ten 
years of age and of his children four now 



survive, namely: Ann, wife of Aaron Col- 
bert, of Montana; Captain David C. , of 
Albany, and Samuel S., of Princeton, Iowa. 

After his father's death. Captain Stephen 
B. Hanks accompanied his mother and the 
rest of the family to Illinois, settling in 
White county. Later, he came to W'hite- 
side county with his sister Ann and the 
family of a cousin, Alfred Slocum, with 
whom he continued to reside until he was 
eighteen years of age. At that time his 
life on the river commenced, and for two 
years he worked as a laborer, then taking 
charge of a raft during the summer season, 
while in the winter he was employed in the 
pineries. This raH, owned by the Old St. 
Croi.x Lumber Company, was frozen in the 
river at Albany late in the fall of 1844, and 
the Captain was obliged to retire into winter 
quarters. The firm by which he was em- 
ployed went into bankruptcy that winter, 
and he then became connected with the 
Stillwater Lumber Company, and operated 
seventy-five miles from Stillwater, where he 
cut logs. 

Having become familiar with the river. 
Captain Hanks took a position as steam- 
boat pilot in 1856, with the Minnesota 
Packet Company, remaining with them until 
they sold out in 1863. A portion of this 
time he was in command of the vessel, and 
in 1868 became captain and pilot on the 
Diamond Joe line, running between Fulton 
and St. Paul. In 1874 he took a similar 
position on the good steamship. Brother 
Jonathan. Subsequently for two years he 
was in charge of the Hartford, owned by C. 
Lamb & Sons, of Clinton, Iowa, and also 
afterward piloted the Lafayette Lamb and 
the Artemus Lamb for ten years. This 
completed a service as pilot and captain of 
more than fifty years duration. 




S. B, HANKS. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



345 



Of fine physique and splendid constitu- 
tion, the Captain bears the weight of his 
more than three score and ten years with 
ease, largely owing, perhaps, to his active 
outdoor life. He is extremely popular at 
all points along the river, and his friends 
cannot be numbered. At one time he owned 
an interest in a store at Stillwater, and also 
in one located at Albany. Besides this, he 
he has been interested in real estate ven- 
tures in Whiteside county, and as early as 
1842 entered a tract of land here. He has 
bought and sold considerable property, and 
at the present time owns six distinct pieces 
of real estate. He has erected two resi- 
dences in Albany, and has been associated 
with the upbuilding and improvement of the 
town. In politics, he is a stanch Republic- 
an, though he has never been an aspirant to 
public office. Fraternally, he is a member 
of Albany lodge. No. 566, F. & A. M. 

On the i6th of December, 1856, the 
Captain married Emily D. Bennett, daugh- 
ter of Lyman and Susan Bennett. The 
young couple commenced keeping house on 
a farm which they owned in Albany town- 
ship. This place was disposed of in 1863, 
and for about five years they resided in 
Dubuque, since which time the family home 
has been in Albany. Mrs. Hanks, who was 
born May 8, 1S34, at Buffalo, New York, 
died June 15, 1882. Her elder son, Frank- 
lin B., born September 28, 1857, died Jan- 
uary 30, 1858. Martin W., the younger, 
born October 3, 1859, is the present secre- 
tary and treasurer of .McClure's Logging Co. 
He was a graduate of the Dubuque Com- 
mercial College, and at one time attended 
Bryant & Stratton's Business College in 
Chiciigo. For a wife he chose Ida Under- 
wood, and their two children are named 
respectively, Grace and Stephen Underwood. 



Jessie J., the only daughter of our subject, 
and a resident of Albany, was born August 
29, 1863, and became the wife of C. C. 
Ewing, November 24, 1885. She had two 
children, Florence and Frank. The Cap- 
tain and his family have always attended 
the Methodist Episcopal church, and in 
many ways have been material factors in the 
advancement of religious and benevolent 
enterprises. 



LOUIS DAUEN. The United Statescan 
boast of no better, more patriotic citi- 
zens than her German-Americans. Once 
having sworn allegiance to the stars and 
stripes, they earnestly uphold the laws and 
institutions of their adopted land, and are 
noted for the same industrious, worthy 
characteristics here as govern them in the 
Fatherland. 

Louis Dauen, whose comfortable home 
is situated on section 17, Hopkins township, 
Whiteside county, is a native of Oldenberg, 
Germany, January 24, 1849. His paternal 
grandparents, Edward R. and Johanna (El- 
vers) Dauen, also were born in that province, 
and his parents, Henry F. and Eva (John- 
son) Dauen, were residents of Oldenberg 
until after their marriage, which event oc- 
curred in 1846. The father was born June 
20, 1818, and the mother in 1820. She 
was a daughter of Dirke and Marnie John- 
son, of Oldenberg, and had a brother and 
sister, namely: Herman and \'iola. Her- 
man, who was a cabinet-maker by trade, 
passed his entire life in Oldenburg. Viola 
became the wife of Ulfer Ulfers, who held 
a position as treasurer in the province of 
Oldenberg, under the government. Henry 
F. Dauen and family emigrated to the 
United States in 18G6, and, settling upon a 



346 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



farm in Hopkins township, Whiteside coun- 
ty, he owned and operated the same until 
his death, which event occurred January 
17, 1893. His wife departed this life De- 
cember 25, 1886, and from that time for- 
ward he made his home with his children. 
He enjoyed the respect of all who knew 
him, for he was industrious and thrifty, and 
made a competence for his loved ones, even 
when laboring under the disadvantages of 
being a stranger in a strange land. His 
eider son, Edward, was born September 
24, 1847, married Fredericka Cassens, in 
1S82, and now carries on a farm in Jordan 
township. Hannah, the only daughter, born 
December 11, 1855, in Oldenberg, became 
the wife of Henry Fulfs, and has three chil- 
dren, two sons and a daughter. The home 
of the family is in Genesee township. 

Louis Dauen passed seventeen years of 
his life in his native land, and, after com- 
ing to this country, he continued to make 
his home with his parents until his mar- 
riage. Since that time he has cultivated 
his present homestead. As he could do so, 
he added fine improvements, and now his 
country home is considered one of the best 
and most desirable in the township. It 
comprises two hundred acres, suitable for 
the raising of a large variety of crops. 

The marriage of Mr. Dauen and Johanna 
Staassen took place March 11, 1874. She 
is a daughter of John F. and Marnie (Anke) 
Staassen, and has two brothers and a sister. 
Frederick, who died in Te.xas, left a widow, 
now the wife of L. D. Hubbard, of Idaho. 
George married Minnie Audelman, and Mar- 
garet, the only sister of Mrs. Dauen, married 
J. H. Bly, since deceased, and makes her 
home in this township. Eight children have 
been born to our subject and wife: Henry 
F., born March 30, 1875; Anna C, July 26, 



1876; Clara W. , February 7, 1877; Lizzie 
F., February 7, 1880; Maggie J., Septem- 
ber 6, 1883; Emma, November 11, 1886; 
Mary, September 12, 1888; and Leander 
L. , October i, 1894. The children all re- 
side at home, the eldest son being of much 
assistance to his father in the care of the 
farm. 

Louis Dauen received a liberal educa- 
tion in his native land, and after coming to 
this country, attended the district school in 
Hopkins township, in order to familiarize 
himself with the English language. His 
interest in education has never flagged, and 
for fifteen years he served as a school di- 
rector. As a road commissioner he was 
active and zealous during the three years of 
his office. Politically, he is affiliated with 
the Republican partj". In religion, he and 
all of his family are adherents of the Ger- 
man Lutheran church. They are greatly 
esteemed by the entire community, for in 
all respects they are sterling citizens and 
worthy of honor. 



JOHN THOMAS KIRKLAND, the well- 
known and popular agent for the Chi- 
cago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad at Erie, 
Illinois, was born in England March 22, 
i860, and is a son of Thomas and Margaret 
(Gilbert) Kirkland. The father was a na- 
tive of Nottinghamshire, England, and in 
1866 emigrated to this country and took up 
his residence in Greene county, Illinois, 
where he worked at the carpenter's trade as 
a contractor and builder. In his family 
were seven children, five of whom are still 
living, namely: John Thomas, our subject; 
^^"illiam, a farmer of Macoupin county, Illi- 
nois; Margaret, wife of G. C. Robinson, of 
Hettick, Illinois; Luella, wife of Alonzo 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



347 



Hard, a farmer of Kemper, Illinois; Frank 
E., a telegraph operator of Kemper. 

John T. Kirkland, of this review, re- 
mained at home with his parents until about 
twenty-five years of age, and then learned 
telegraphy and accepted a position as oper- 
ator with the railroad company. In 1888 
he came to Erie as agent for the Chicago, 
Burlington &Quincy Railroad, and has since 
filled that position with credit to himself 
and to the entire satisfaction of the com- 
pany and general public. He is a courte- 
ous, obliging gentleman, and has 'made a 
host of warm friends during his residence in 
Erie. Fraternall}', he is a member of the 
Knights of Pythias and the Modern Wood- 
men of America. 

In 1884 was celebrated the marriage of 
Mr. Kirkland and Miss Alice Coultas, a 
daughter of John and Dean Coultas, and to 
them have been born three children, namelj': 
Alma, Clarence and Hazel. 



lOHN F. LE FEVRE, who is one of the 
J enterprising and progressive farmers of 
Whiteside county, has through his well-di- 
rected efforts won a handsome competence 
and is to-day accounted one of the leading, 
substantial agriculturists of the community. 
He was born in Lancaster county, Pennsyl- 
vania, January I, 1828, and is a son of John 
W. and Mary (Espensheade) Le Fevre. 
The father was also a native of Lancaster 
county, born January 5, 1797, and was a 
farmer by occupation. His wife was born 
in September, 1796, and they became the 
parents of six children, one of whom died in 
early life. The others were Eli/ia, widow 
of Joseph Miller. She was born in 1819. 
and is living in Sterling at the advanced 
age of eighty years. She has two sons. 



Joseph and Amos. The second child of 
John W. Le P"evre was Amos, who is now 
deceased. Elias, a resident of Sterling, 
died in 1897. leaving two children. Belle 
and Hattie. John ¥. is the next of the 
family. Mary A. died leaving two children, 
Edward and Anna. With his family the 
father left the Keystone state, and on the 
15th of May, 1847, arrived in Whiteside 
count)', where he purchased one hundred 
and forty-five acres of land, upon a part of 
which the town of Sterling now stands. 
His wife died in 1859, and he passed his last 
days in Sterling, where his death occurred 
in 1872. 

John F. Le Fevre acquired his educa- 
tion in the common schools, pursuing his 
studies for about three months during each 
year. At the age of eighteen, he came with 
his parents to Whiteside county and as- 
sisted his father in the cultivation of the 
home farm for several years. In 1885 
he married Anna Good, who was born 
in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and 
for a year they resided on the old 
homestead with the father, who at the 
end of that time took up his abode in the 
town. In 1867 Mr. Le Fevre purchased 
the old homestead and for a number of years 
engaged in the cultivation of the fields, 
meeting with good success in his under- 
takings. After eleven years spent upon the 
farm he removed to Sterling, where, on the 
5th of August, 1880, his wife died. In 1888 
he was again married, his second union be- 
ing with Margaret V. Lytle, who was born 
in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and 
with whom he lived happily for five years. 
She was then called to the home beyond in 
1893, after which his daughter, Ivatie, the 
only child of his first marriage, became his 
housekeeper. She was the wife of Frank 



348 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Eisele, by whom she had two children, one 
of whom died at the age of three years. 
Her surviving son is John Eisele. After 
the death of her father's second wife she 
and her family removed to the old home- 
stead in order to keep house for him, but 
her health failed her, and she, too, passed 
away in 1894. Since that time, Mr. Le 
Fevre has lived alone on the old home 
farm. 

In 1868 he sold forty acres of the place 
for three hundred dollars per acre, and the 
town of Sterling was built upon it. For 
some years he speculated in land, and his 
judicious investments in realty were at- 
tended with gratifying success. In his ear- 
lier years he engaged in the operation of 
ninety acres of land and since returning to 
the farm has cultivated the eighteen acres 
which he still owns. Honorably in all his 
business dealings, industrious and ener- 
getic, he has met with prosperity which is 
well deserved. Mr. Le Fevre is a member 
of the Lutheran church, and in politics he 
has been a stanch supporter of the Repub- 
lican party since its organization in 1854. 
At the time of his arrival in Whiteside 
county there were only thirty-six votes cast 
in the township, a fact which indicates the 
unsettled condition of the country at that 
period. For thirty-five years he has been 
a member of the Odd Fellows Society. He 
has witnessed remarkable changes in White- 
side county, and has not only seen its won- 
derful development, but has been an active 
factor in promoting its progress along ma- 
terial and moral lines. 



JAMES LEAHY. A brilliant example of 
a self-made American citizen and a 
grand exemplification of the progress that 



an ambitious foreigner can make in this 
country of unbounded opportunities, is 
shown in the case of James Leahy, whose 
home is on section 28, Hahnaman township, 
Whiteside county, Illinois. His singular 
success is due to his own energy and the 
high ideal which his lofty and laudable am- 
bition placed before him. Success in any 
walk of life is an indication of earnest en- 
deavor and persevering effort, — character- 
istics which he possesses in • an eminent 
degree. 

Mr. Leahy is a native of Ireland, and 
when a young man of twenty-two years 
crossed the broad Atlantic, landing in New 
York May 20, 1857. .After working in a 
lumberyard of the city for over a year, he 
came to Whiteside county, Illinois, in 1859, 
and here was employed as a farm hand by 
the month for three or four years. He 
manifested his love for his adopted country 
by enlisting in August, 1862, in Company 
C, Seventy-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, 
which was assigned to the Army of the 
Cumberland, and from private he was pro- 
moted to the rank of corporal and later 
sergeant. He participated in numerous 
battles and skirmishes, including those at 
Perrysville, Kentucky, Stone River, and 
Nashville, and in the Atlanta campaign he 
was almost constantly under fire for nearly 
six months. Later he took part in the bat- 
tles of Franklin and Nashville. He was 
twice wounded, receiving a slight gunshot 
wound during the battle of Perryville, and 
still carries those honorable scars received 
while defending the old flag and the cause 
it represented. At the close of the war he 
was honorably discharged and mustered out 
at Harker, Tennessee, June 12, 1865. 

Mr. Leahy returned to Prophetstown, 
Whiteside county, and the following year 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



U9 



bought one hundred and twenty acres of 
land where he now resides. This he has 
since converted into a fertile and productive 
farm, supplied with all the conveniences 
and accessories found upon a model farm of 
the nineteenth century. He has added to 
his home farm until now within its bound- 
aries are two hundred and fifty acres, and 
he also has two other farms, one of two 
hundred and eighty acres, the other of one 
hundred and twenty, making in all six hun- 
dred and fifty acres of valuable and highly 
cultivated land. It is needless to say that 
he thoroughly understands the occupation 
he has chosen as a life work as his wonder- 
ful success testifies to that fact, and he is a 
business man of far more than ordinary 
ability. 

On the 1 2th of June, 1866, in Sterling, 
Mr. Leahy was united in marriage with Miss 
Julia Shanahan, also a native of Ireland, 
who came to the new world when a young 
lady and died in 18S4, leaving nine children, 
two sons and seven daughters, all still liv- 
ing. For his second wife, Mr. Leahy mar- 
ried Miss Johanna Courtney, a native of 
Whiteside county, by whom he has si.x chil- 
dren. 

Politically Mr. Leahy is an uncomprom- 
ising Republican, and has served as a com- 
mitteeman of his township and as a dele- 
gate to county conventions of his party. He 
has ever taken quite an active and promi- 
nent part in local politics and has most 
creditably filled the office of township trus- 
tee, school director and commissioner of 
highways for eighteen years. For forty 
years he has been identified with the inter- 
ests of this county, and is among the most 
valued and useful citizens of his community, 
giving his support to every enterprise which 
he believes will prove of public benefit. 



OA. WILSON, a leading and representa- 
tive farmer of Newton township, 
whose home is on section ii, was born in 
that township, December 31, 1856, a son 
G. W. and Ph(cbe (Layman) Wilson. The 
father is a native of New York and a farmer 
by occupation. About 1855 he came to 
Illinois, and took up his residence in New- 
ton township, Whiteside county, where he 
at first operated rented land, but about i860 
he purchased one hundred and sixty acres 
on section i . As the years have passed and 
he has prospered in his labors, he has added 
to his landed possessions until he now owns 
about five hundred acres of very valuable 
and productive land. He continued to 
actively engage in farming until 1898, when 
he removed to Clinton, Iowa, and has since 
lived retired, enjoying a well-earned rest. 

During his boyhood and youth O. A. 
Wilson attended the district schools and 
aided his father in the labors of the farm, 
remaining at home until his marriage. On 
the 226 of June, 1879, he wedded Miss Anna 
Hanson, who was born October 20, 1857, a 
daughter of Charles and Mary Hanson, and 
by this union five children have been born 
whose names and dates of birth are as fol- 
lows: Seth A., June 2, 1880; Arthur D., 
October 8, 1881; Clara V., August 2, 1883; 
Charles Albert, December 27, 1892; and 
Lucile A., February 22, 1897. 

Throughout his active business life, Mr. 
Wilson has followed farming and stock rais- 
ing with marked success, and now owns a 
good farn of eighty acres on section 11, 
Newton township. He also rents other 
tracts and now operates about three hundred 
acres, from which he obtains a good income. 
In his political affiliations Mr. Wilson is a 
Republican, but aside from voting takes on 
active part in political affairs. 



350 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ALBERT L. THOMPSON, a prominent 
and representative farmer residing on 
section 15, Fenton township, where he owns 
and operates a fine farm of two hundred 
and forty acres, was born in that township 
July 13, 1857, and is a son of R. M. Thomp- 
son, an honored citizen of Morrison, whose 
sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. 
Our subject grew to manhood on the home 
farm, acquiring a good practical knowledge 
of agricultural pursuits, and on reaching the 
age of twenty-one he started out in life for 
himself as a farmer. He purchased three 
hundred and eighty acres of land from his 
father and at once turned his attention to 
its improvement and cultivation. For a 
number of years he has made a specialty of 
dairy farming, and for that purpose generally 
keeps from thirty to forty milch cows. He 
secured one of the first hand cream separa- 
tors in Whiteside county, and in this branch 
of his business he has met with most excel- 
lent success. He also deals in stock quite 
extensively, buying and shipping to the city 
markets, and as a breeder he is interested 
in Poland-China hogs, Durham and short- 
horn cattle. 

On the nth of December, 1878, Mr. 
Thompson married Miss Myra Plummer, a 
daughter of William and Rachel Plummer, 
in whose family were four children, namely: 
Jane, wife of William Davis, of Erie; Theo- 
dore, a resident of Grundy county, Iowa; 
Myra, wife of our subject; and Josiah, also 
a resident of Grundy county, Iowa. Mr. 
and Mrs. Thompson have three children; 
Emmet, born August i, 18S0, assists his 
father in the labors of the farm; Bertha, 
born June 28, 1882, and Emery, born May 
II, 1884, are attending the Port Byron 
Academy. 

Mr. Thompson was reared a Republican, 



but he is now independent in politics and 
supports by his ballot the men whom he 
believes best qualified to fill the offices, 
regardless of party lines. He has held the 
offices of school trustee and director for a 
number of terms, and as an enterprising 
and public-spirited citizen he is always will- 
ing to give his support to any object which 
he believes will advance the intellectual, 
moral or material welfare of his township or 
county. He is a charter member of Ewing 
camp. No. 175, M. W. A., both he and his 
wife are charter members of Fenton lodge, 
No. 45, Mystic Workers of the World, in both 
of which orders he has served in an official 
capacity. He and his wife are members of 
the Christian church of Erie, and they are 
highly and favorably known. 



WILLIAM P. TABER, of Spring Hill, 
residing on section 26, Portland 
township, is a fine representative of the 
practical and progressive farmers and stock 
dealers of Whiteside county, and holds a 
high position among its most respected citi- 
zens. He was born September 17, 1822, in 
Erie county. New York, a son of Captain 
William Taber, and comes of good old 
Scotch-Irish ancestry, on the paternal side. 
His grandfather, John Taber, was an early 
settler of Virginia, but afterwards removed 
to Washington county. New York, where he 
reared his family. 

Captain William Taber spent his earlier 
years in W^ashington county, where he mar- 
ried Isabella Pratt, who was born in Massa- 
chusetts, a daughter of Thomas Pratt, and 
the great-granddaughter of one of the early 
settlers of the old Bay state, who left Eng- 
land during the time of Oliver Cromwell's 
dictatorship on account of political troubles. 



IriE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



351 



Captain Taber was a soldier in the war of 
18 12, and afterwards served for five years 
in the regular army, being on the staff of 
both General Wolf and General Scott, in 
both capacities ranking as captain. On leav- 
ing the army he settled on a farm in Erie 
county, New York, from whence, in the 
winter of iHig and 1S30, he came to I-inox 
county, Illinois, The present city of Ivnox- 
ville had then but two houses; the rude log 
cabin, 16x18 feet, which he at once erected, 
was the third. A few years later he removed 
with his family to Henry comity, becoming 
one of the original settlers of that county, 
and in course of time one of its most active 
citizens. He served in various official capac- 
ities, including that of justice of the peace. 
In 1849, accompanied by four friends, he 
started overland for California, but unfort- 
unately died at Salt Lake City, while two 
others of the little band died before reach- 
ing their destination. 

William P. Taber, a lad of seven years 
when he came with his parents to Ivnox 
county, Illinois, lived there until 1837, when 
he went with them to Henry county. The 
pioneer schools of his times affording but 
meager educational advantages, he was 
obliged to depend upon his own resources 
for obtaining knowledge, so that he may be 
truly styled a self-educated, as well as a 
self-made man. On reaching man's estate 
he began farming in Henry county, where 
he remained until 1850. In that year he 
made an overland trip to California, and for 
two or more years was there engaged in 
mining and trading, the latter occupation 
proving the more remunerative of the two. 
Returning in 1853 to Illinois, Mr. Taber 
purchased from his father-in-law, Smith 
Hurd, the old " Hurd Farm " of two hun- 
dred and forty acres, on which he has since 



resided. He has continued the improve- 
ments already inaugurated, and made many 
radical changes for the better, including the 
erection of two commodious barns, the first 
in 1859, and a large, well arranged dwelling 
house. He has also added l)y purchase to 
the original acreage of the place so that his 
homestead now comprises four hundred 
acres of valuable land, the greater part of 
which is used for tillage or grazing. In 
addition to general farming he has been in- 
terested in stock raising and feeding since 
1854, much of the time carrying on an ex- 
tensive business, and at the present time is 
feeding and shipping three car loads of cat- 
tle and five car loads of hogs annually. 

Mr. Taber married Esther C. Hurd, 
September 14, 1844, in Sharon, Illinois, 
daughter of the late Smith Hurd, who was 
born and brought up in New England. She 
was born in Vermont, and there lived until 
1842, when, a girl of fourteen years, she 
came with her parents to Whiteside county, 
Illinois. Two years later she became a 
bride, and though very young proved her- 
self a most efficient helpmeet and house- 
wife. Mr. and Mrs. Taber have reared 
four children, as follows: Rothilda, widow 
of the late R. B. Kelley; Ocelia, wife of 
Barney McGrady; Heman, a farmer and 
stock dealer; and Jane E. The latter, who 
married John Hill, died in 1886, May 28, 
leaving one son and a daughter, William 
Hill and Grace F. Hill. 

In politics Mr. Taber was formerly a 
Whig, and as one of the ardent supporters 
of \\'illiam Henry Harrison in 1840 shouted 
with hiscomrades "Tippecanoe, and Tyler, 
too," as loudly as anyone. On the forma- 
tion of the Republican party he became one 
of its stanch adherents, and cast his vote 
for J. C. Fremont. Although interested in 



352 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD, 



local politics he has never aspired to office, 
preferring to devote his time and attention 
to business affairs. Fraternally he is a 
Mason and an Odd Fellow. 

For three score and ten years Mr. Taber 
has been a resident of Illinois, and for forty- 
six years has owned and occupied his present 
homestead. He is a pioneer in the fullest 
sense of the term, and in the rapid develop- 
ment of town and county he has taken an 
active part. When he came to this section 
of the country Indians roamed about, and 
deer, wolves and other wild animals were 
plentiful. Swamps then nearly impassable 
have been drained, and waving fields of 
grain give not a hint of their former pres- 
ence. The many railroads of the state 
have brought the markets of tlie east, west, 
north and south within easy reach. In 
watching these developments and improve- 
ments he has taken great pleasure, and 
often lent substantial aid. 



JAMES S. McCAULEY, deceased, was 
for many years prominently identified 
with the agricultural interests of this coun- 
ty. He was born in West Virginia, No- 
vember II, 1821, and was a son of Cor- 
nelius and Mary (Butler) McCauley, the 
former a native of Scotland, the latter of 
English parentage. When a young man 
the father came to America and first locat- 
ed in West Virginia, but during the infancy 
of our subject moved to Ross county, Ohio, 
and later to Pickaway county, that state. 
In his family were eleven children. 

Our subject was educated in the com- 
mon schools of Ohio. He lost his father 
at the age of sixteen years, and after that 
he worked as a farm hand for seven years. 
In 1850 he rented a farm in Fayette coun- 



ty, Ohio, where he lived for three years, 
and in 1853 came to Whiteside county, Illi- 
nois. Prior to his marriage he spent about 
three years traveling over the south and 
west, and visited New Orleans. On locat- 
ing in this county he purchased eighty acres 
of land on section 8, Hopkins township, to 
which he subsequently added until he had 
four hundred acres, in two farms, and eight 
acres of timber land, which is very valuable 
and productive land, and which he placed 
under a high state of cultivation. He and 
his young wife began life here in a car roof 
shanty in true pioneer style. During his 
active business life he was successfully en- 
gaged in general farming and stock raising, 
giving considerable attention to the breed- 
ing of thoroughbred short horn cattle. 

On the 7th of January, 1847, Mr. Mc- 
Cauley was united in marriage with Miss 
Hester A. Hanawalt, a native of Ross coun- 
ty, Ohio, and a daughter of Henry and Mary 
(Caughey) Hanawalt, who were born, reared 
and married in Pennsylvania, but a few 
years after their marriage removed to Ross 
county, Ohio, where they spent their re- 
maining days. By occupation the father 
was a farmer. He was drowned when Mrs. 
McCauley was but nine years of age. In 
his family were six children, Christopher, 
Samuel, Jane, George, John and Hester A., 
all of whom are now deceased with the ex- 
ception of Mrs. McCauley. Her paternal 
grandfather. Christian Hanawalt, was a na- 
tive of Germany and an early settler of 
Pennsylvania. 

To our subject and his wife were born 
eight children, but only two are now living. 
Mary C. makes her home with her mother in 
Sterling. Clara is the wife of C. F. Royer, of 
Hopkinstownship.and they have six children: 
Bertha; Etta; Charles F. ; Arthur R. ; Ida 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



353 



R. ; and James C, who died at the age of 
nine years. 

It was the intention of Mr. McCauley to 
retire from active life in the fall of 1898 
and remove to Sterling, where he purchased 
a residence on West Fourth street, hut 
death claimed him April 26, 1898, and he 
was laid to rest in Riverside cemetery. He 
was a supporter of the Republican party, 
and served as a road commissioner and in 
other local offices. He deserves classifica- 
tion among those purely self made men of 
the county who have distinguished them- 
selves for their ability to master the oppos- 
ing forces of life and wrest from fate a large 
measure of success and an honorable name. 
At the time of his marriage he had but forty 
dollars and through his own well-directed 
and energetic efforts he acquired a hand- 
some competence and was able to leave his 
family in comfortable circumstances. His 
wife and daughter are members of the 
Methodist Episcopal church of Sterling, and 
during their short residence in the city have 
made many friends. 



THEODORE FRANK is one of White- 
side county's native sons and prosper- 
ous farmers, who owns and successfully 
operates a fine farm of two hundred and 
seventy acres on section 21, Montmorency 
township. He was born in Sterling town- 
ship, February 23, 1858. His father, James 
Frank, a native of Pennsylvania, came to 
this county when it was but sparsely settled 
and took up land, which he immediately be- 
gan to improve. He added to his posses- 
sions and at one time was one of the largest 
landholders in the eastern part of the coun- 
ty. Before attaining his majority his father 

taught him the weaver's trade, but as the 
20 



occupation was distasteful to him, he turned 
his attention to farming on reaching the age 
of twenty-one years, and in that undertak- 
ing has met with most e.xcellent success. 
In 1890 he retired to private life in Rock 
Falls, but still owns seven hundred and 
twenty acres of land in Lee and Whiteside 
counties, all under a high state of cultiva- 
tion. From time to time he has added to 
his wealth by purchasing real estate in Rock 
Falls, some of which has valuable improve- 
ments thereon. 

In 1856, James Frank married Miss 
Fanny Lingerfield, also a native of Pennsyl- 
vania, and to them were born three chil- 
dren: Theodore, our subject; Jacob, who 
is engaged in the implement business in 
Rock Falls as a member of the firm of 
Frank Brothers; and Mary, who died in in- 
fancy. The wife and mother departed this 
life at the early age of twenty-four years. 
On the 8th of November, 1866, the father 
married Miss .\nna M. Shuler, a native of 
Germany, and to them were born four chil- 
dren: Anna, at home; James, who is in- 
terested ill the implement business with his 
brother; Samuel, also in the implement 
business in Rock Falls; and Elizabeth, wife 
of C. Sheiler, a resident of Rock Falls, and 
junior member of the firm of Janssen & 
Sheiler, of Sterling. The parents are now 
living in Rock Falls. The father is a very 
popular and influential man in local politic- 
al circles, is an ardent supporter of the 
Democratic party, and has filled all the 
township offices with e.xception of supervisor. 
He is a consistent member of the Lutheran 
church and is widely and favorably known 
throughout the county. 

Theodore Frank, of this review, received 
a good common-school education, attending 
the Sterling high school, now the second 



354 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ward school. He continued to work for his 
father until he was married, in February, 
1 88 1, to Miss Lora Armstrong, a native of 
Brookviile, Indiana, who died November 4, 
1892, leaving five children, namely: Pearl, 
Fanny, May, Gertrude and Ray H. Shortly 
after his marriage, in 1883, Mr. Frank pur- 
chased the property on which he now lives, 
and to its cultivation and improvement he 
has since devoted his energies with marked 
success. He built a new barn, and later a 
modern and pleasant residence, which is 
now the home of the family. In connec- 
tion with general farming he has success- 
fully engaged in stock feeding for several 
years, and in all his undertakings has pros- 
pered, becoming one of the substantial citi- 
zens of the community. 

On the 2 1 St of January, 1895, Mr. Frank 
was united in marriage with Mrs. Eliza A. 
Christie, who was born in Ohio, December 
28, 1850, a daughter of Charles P. and 
Sarah (Merrick) Ripley, natives of New 
York and Virginia, respectively. They came 
to this county in 1852, and took up their 
residence in Jordan township, where the 
father became a large land owner and suc- 
cessfully operated three hundred and twenty 
acres of land. He was a graduate of the 
Owego University, of New York, and, being 
a well-educated man, he was called upon to 
fill several local offices, serving as assessor, 
collector and justice of the peace for a num- 
ber of years each. He died in 1864, but 
his wife still survives him. Of their seven 
children three are also deceased, while those 
living are Eliza, wife of our subject; John 
E., a successful merchant of Dixon, Illinois, 
a member of the firm of Ripley & Long; 
Henry C, a resident of Owego, New York; 
and Charles P., a resident of Montmorency 
township, this county. Mrs. Frank was 



first married, in 1873, to Orson Christie, a 
successful farmer of this county, who died 
in 1885, leaving four children, namely: 
Guy, a resident of Hume township; Frances, 
wife of Robert Pollock, by whom she has 
one son, Robert; Mabel E., a teacher; and 
Myrtle M., at home. By his second mar- 
riage our subject has one daughter, Theo- 
dosia E. 

In his political affiliations Mr. Frank has 
always been a Democrat, and he has been 
called upon to serve his fellow citizens in 
the capacity of collector, commissioner of 
highways some years, and school director 
at the present time. His official duties 
have been most capably and satisfactorily 
discharged, and on account of his sterling 
worth and many excellencies of character 
he is held in high regard by all who know 
him. His wife holds membership in the 
Baptist church, and he gives his support to 
church work. 



CHARLES E. ACKERMAN. Possess- 
ing the sturdy, industrious characteris- 
tics of a long line of German ancestors, C. 
E. Ackerman, a well known merchant of 
Coleta, Whiteside county, has won success 
and an influential position in society. He 
was born September 19, 185 i, in Baltimore, 
Maryland, a son of Paul and Lizzie (Buck) 
Ackerman, who were natives of Germany 
and were married in that country. The 
father, who had been a coachman, brought 
his wife to America in the spring of 185 i, 
and after spending a year or so in Maryland, 
he located on a farm in Somerset county, 
Pennsylvania, and remained there for four 
and a half years. In the spring of 1855 he 
removed to Lee county, Illinois, and there 
farmed rented land until the fall of 1S60. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



355 



At that time, he had accumulated enough 
capital to buy a tract of eighty acres, the 
land being an unimproved piece of property 
in Genesee township, Whiteside county. 
He did not settle there before 1862, and to 
his original purchase he added until he 
owned two hundred and twenty acres, all in 
one body. Stockraising claimed a large 
share of his attention, as he found it very 
profitable. In the autumn of 1877, he retired 
from active cares, moved to Sterling, where 
he lived five years, and thenceforward made 
his home in Coleta, his death occnrring 
here in 1890, while his widow died about 
two years subsequently. They had four 
children, of whom Christian is a carpenter 
in Milledgeville, Illinois; Randolph, a farmer 
of South Dakota, and Barbara is the wife 
of C. P. Garwick, who is a partner of our 
subject. Paul Ackerman had married in 
his early manhood, in Germany, and of 
their four children two survive, namely; 
Martha, wife of Victor Wayman, of Madison, 
Wisconsin; and Anna, wife of Ernest 
Bussemyer, f)f Nebraska. 

After completing his education in the 
common schools C. E. Ackerman worked 
for his father on the farm for several years, 
and for a few months ran a meat wagon. 
He then went to Eldora, Iowa, where he 
found employment with Dr. Myron Under- 
wood for a year, and then returned to this 
county. He continued to manage the home 
farm to some extent, and in February, 
1S83, he went to Clark county, South Da- 
kota, where he entered three hundred and 
twenty acres, and it was not until Novem- 
ber, 1884, that he was at liberty to leave 
his new purchase. 

On the 24th of January, 18S5, Mr. Ack- 
erman and Scott Crouch purchased the gen- 
eral store of Cobb, Howe & Crouch, at Co- 



leta, and continued in business together 
until the fall of 1893. At that time Mr. 
Ackerman bought his partner's share, and 
in January, 1895, C. P. Garwick buying a 
half-interest in the business, the firm name 
became Ackerman & Garwick. They trans- 
act a large and profitable business, and 
Lave the respect of all with whom they have 
dealings. 

The marriage of Mr. Ackerman and Dora 
Smaltz was solemnized December 27, 1877. 
She was born in Ohio, September 17, 1854, 
and by her marriage became the mother of 
three children. Elizabeth, who is a gradu- 
ate of the Milledgeville high school, and is 
now a student at the Madison (Wisconsin) 
University (a member of the class of 1903), 
possesses marked musical talent. Anna 
died at the age of two years. Clara is now 
attending the young ladies' seminary at 
Mount Carroll (a branch of the Northwest- 
ern University). She is taking a literary 
course, and expects to devote special atten- 
tion to music. Mrs. Ackerman departed 
this life March 12, 1896, and was placed to 
rest in the Morrison cemetery. Her par- 
ents, Jacob and Anna Smaltz, natives of 
Germany, were Ohio farmers for many 
years, later carried on a farm in Whiteside 
county, and passed their last years in Clin- 
ton county, Iowa. They were the parents 
of four sons and four daughters, Mrs. Ack- 
erman being the third in order of birth. 

As a citizen, Mr. Ackerman has per- 
formed his full share toward the betterment 
of his home town and state. He is a stanch 
Republican, and for six years was a mem- 
ber of the county committee. For a period 
of ten years, he served efficiently as school 
treasurer, and, fraternally, he is connected 
with Milledgeville lodge. No. 345, F. & A. 
M., and with the Sterling chapter and com- 



356 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



mandery, besides being identified with Co- 
leta camp, No. "6, M. W. of A. ; Coleta 
garrison, No. i6o. Knights of the Globe, in 
which he holds the office of chief justice. 
Religiously he is a member and trustee of 
the Methodist Episcopal church of this place. 



GEORGE F. SHULER. No foreign ele- 
ment has become a more importat part 
of our American citizenship than that fur- 
nished by Germany. The emigrants from 
that land have brought with them to the 
new world the stability, enterprise and per- 
severance characteristic of their people and 
have fused these qualities with the pro- 
gressiveness and indomitable spirit of the 
west. Mr. Shuler is a representative of 
this class. He came to America a poor 
young man, hoping to benefit his financial 
condition, and his dreams of the future 
have been more than realized for he is to- 
day one of the most prosperous farmers of 
Sterling township, Whiteside county, Illi- 
nois, his home being on section 9. 

He was born in Lekengericht, Baden, 
Germany, April 26, 1835, a son of John 
George and Christina (Brustol) Shuler, who 
spent their entire lives in that country. 
The father was quite a successful man who 
followed the occupation of farming during 
the summer and weaving during the winter 
months. George P., our subject, is the 
oldest of the four children bjrn of his first 
marriage; John, deceased, was a successful 
farmer, whose widow is still living in Col- 
oma township, this county; Maria is the 
wife of James Frank, a retired farmer of 
Rock Falls, and Mathias is a farmer of 
Union Grove township. The mother died 
in 1854, and the father married again. The 
only child born of the second union was 



Johannus, farming the old homestead in 
Germany. The father died in Baden, Ger- 
many, at the age of seventy-seven years. 

Our subject received a good education 
in the public schools of his native land, 
and later worked with his father at farming 
and weaving until coming to the United 
States, with the exception of two summers, 
when he was employed as a harvest hand. 
Before leaving the fatherland he visited 
other parts of Germany and France. On 
the 15th of October, 1853, he took pass- 
age on the Northumberland, a sailing vessel 
which left London, England, on the 27th 
of that month and arrived in New York 
December i. On landing, Mr. Shuler pro- 
ceeded at once to Hamilton, Butler county, 
Ohio, where he obtained work at corn- 
husking at thirty-five cents per day. He 
was with friends, none of whom could 
speak English, and they were afraid to ask 
more than that amount per day. He ne.xt 
obtained a position, where he cut wood and 
did all kinds of work for six dollars per 
month during the winter, and the following 
summer received nine dollars and a half per 
month until after harvest. 

About the last of August, 1S54, Mr. 
Shuler came to Sterling, Illinois, at which 
time he had but thirty-five dollars. He 
traveled by railroad to Mendota, Illinois, 
from there by stage to Dixon, and was taken 
down the south side of the river by John 
Erie. On his way he stopped at that place 
which he now owns to make inquiries for a 
man whom he had known in the old world 
and who had settled in Sterling township. 
That same year eight people died during the 
cholera epidemic upon his present farm. 
By this time Mr. Shuler had acquired some 
knowledge of the English language. He 
first worked at threshing for Peter Bressler 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



357 



at one dollar per day for a short time, and 
then was with C. C. Alexander during the 
fall and winter, receiving one dollar per day 
for threshing, seventy-five cents per day for 
picking corn, and ten dollars per month for 
splitting rails and making fences. The fol- 
lowing spring he entered the employ of 
George Delp, with whom he remained until 
after harvest, and then worked for Emanuel 
L. Landis during the fall and winter at 
eighteen dollars per month. 

On the 14th of February, 1856, Mr. 
Shuler married Miss Elizabeth D. Rosen- 
berry, a native of Montgomery county, Penn- 
sylvania, and a daughter of Jacob Rosen- 
berry, who spent his entire life in that state 
engaged in farming. By this union five 
children were born, namely: Anna E.,wife 
of P'erris Landis, a farmer residing on sec- 
tion 15, Sterling township, by whom she 
has seven children; John T., who died at 
the age of two years and nine months; 
Emma R. , wife of Christ Miller, of section 
9, Sterling township, by whom she has two 
children; Mary R., who is now her father's 
housekeeper; and a daughter, who died in 
infancy. 

Mr. and Mrs. Shuler began married life 
on a farm of forty acres on section 9, Sterl- 
ing township, only one-half of which was 
under cultivation, while the only improve- 
ments upon the place was an old log cabin, 
sixteen by eighteen feet, and a straw stable. 
They remained there until 1859, when he 
bought another forty-acre farm from L. S. 
Pennington, making eighty acres in one 
body. He paid down two hundred and 
thirty dollars for the second tract, but ow- 
ing to the hard times and failure of the bank 
in which he had enough money to finish 
paying for the land, he lost that forty acres. 
However, a year later he was able to repur- 



chase it. In 1863 he sold from his forty 
acres nine hundred dollars worth of corn, 
getting one dollar and two cents per bushel 
for a part of it, and later one dollar and 
twenty- five cents per bushel. In 1864 he 
purchased forty acres more of Hiram Piatt, 
making in all one hundred and twenty acres 
that he then owned. He resided upon his 
first purchase until 1870, when he bought 
eighty acres additional and removed to that 
tract, just across the road from his old 
home. Here he occupied a frame house, 
which at the time he came to the county 
was the best in the locality. He now uses 
it for a coal and wood house. In July, 1874, 
Mr. Shuler bought one hundred and forty- 
five acres from John B. Crawford, and in 
1879 one hundred and twenty-two acres, but 
later he sold twenty acres of his land, which 
left him four hundred and fifty-seven acres. 
In 1 88 1 he purchased eighty acres more, in 
1 889 bought eighty acres from Emanuel Lan- 
dis; later four acres from David Wolfe, and 
one hundred and twenty acres from Abraham 
N. Landis, making seven hundred and 
thirty acres iu all, which he has owned since 
1893. This is divided into five farms, on 
one of which he lives, while he rents the 
other four. His land is all under a high 
state of cultivation and well improved. He 
has given considerable attention to stock 
raising and feeding for the market, his 
specialty being first Poland China and now 
Chester white hogs. For the past eleven 
years he has not actively engaged in farm- 
ing, and is now practically living retired, en- 
joying a well-earned rest. In 1886 he be- 
came a stockholder of the First National 
Bank of Sterling, and in January, 1887, 
was elected a director of the same, in which 
capacity he is still serving. That his fellow- 
citi/.ens place the utmost confidence in him 



358 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



and fully appreciate his excellent business 
ability, has been manifested in the past ten 
years by his being called upon to administer 
a number of estates, having on hand at one 
time seven and at the present time four. 

Although not a member Mr. Shuler at- 
tends the Presbyterian church and gives to 
its support. In politics he has been a stanch 
Republican since casting his first vote for 
Abraham Lincoln, and he was a member of 
the board of supervisors one term. He also 
served as a member of the school board 
twenty-six years, and in 1870 was elected 
road commissioner, which office he filled for 
twenty-three consecutive years. His career 
seems almost phenomenal, yet his success 
has been by no means the result of fortunate 
circumstances. It has come to him through 
energy, labor and perseverance, directed by 
an evenly balanced mind and by honorable 
business principles. 



JOHN FOLCKERS ONKEN. No better 
illustration of the characteristic energy 
and enterprise of the typical German- 
American citizen can be found than that af- 
forded by the career of thissuccessful farmer, 
now residing on section 21, Hopkins town- 
ship, Whiteside county, Illinois. Coming 
to this country with no capital except his 
abilities he has made his way to success 
through wisely directed effort and he can 
now look back with satisfaction upon past 
struggles. 

Mr. Onken was born in Oldenburg, 
Germany, June 23, 1838, and is a son of 
Ulferhts and Inse (Johnson) Onken, who 
were married in 1851. The father was born 
December 31, 1805, and spent his entire 
life in Germany, where his death occurred in 
1864. He rented land and followed farm- 



ing until the last few years of his 
life. His wife also died in Germany, 
in November, 1844. For several gen- 
erations her ancestors lived m the same 
province of Germany and followed agricult- 
ural pursuits. Our subject is the third in 
order of birth in a family of seven children, 
of whom three died in infancy. The others 
were as follows: Onke, born in 1833, died 
unmarried at the age of twenty-seven years. 
Gralf, born in April, 1836, was married in 
April, 1863, to Mary Fremine, by whom he 
has three sons, and they live in Hanover, 
Germany. Katherine, born October 25, 
1840, came to America in company with 
our subject's wife, in 1870, and in March, 
1 87 1, married Joseph Schiffmacher, now a 
cooper of Sterling, Illinois. 

In 1867 John F. Onken crossed the 
broad Atlantic to the United States, and 
on landing came at once to Hopkins town- 
ship, Whiteside county, Illinois, where he 
worked by the month for others for four 
years. In 1870 he was united in marriage 
with Miss Hannah Ricklefs, also a native 
of Oldenburg, Germany, born F'ebruary 8, 
1849. She is one of a family of six chil- 
dren: Marie, born November 23, 1835, 
and married John Haien, who died in Ger- 
many two years later, leaving one child. 
For her second husband she married Folker 
Bolongius, and in 1867 they came to the 
United States. They are now residents of 
Nelson, Lee county, Illinois, and have no 
children. Elizabeth K., born in 1837, mar- 
ried Eilert Renken, who died in Germany, 
in 1870, leaving three children. GhinaO., 
born December 20, 1839, married August 
Mentsen and died at the birth of their only 
child, who died in infancy. Henry R., born 
February 4, 1845, married Johannah Jacobs, 
has eight children and resides in Hopkins 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



359 



township, Whiteside county. He served 
with distinction as a soldier in the German 
army for three years, during which time he 
participated in the Franco-Prussian war of 
1870. F. Elizabeth, born September 7, 
185 I, is the wife of John S. Johnson, of Nel- 
son, Lee county, Illinois, and they have 
seven children. 

Mr. and Mrs. Onken have become the 
parents of ten children, namely: (i) Rich- 
ard, born March 26, 1872, now resides in 
Hopkins township. He married Emma 
Johnson and has three children, one son 
and two daughters. (2) George, born June 
27. 1873, married Katie Harms, in Febru- 
ary, 1896, and they have one child. Their 
home is also in Hopkins township. (3) Mary 
E., born August 28, 1875, was married, 
March 21, 1895, to Walter Ward, a rail- 
road man living in Round Grove, Illinois. 
(4) Susannah K., born August 14, 1877, was 
married October 25, 1895, to Robert Ward, 
a railroad man of Belvidere, Illinois, and 
they have one child. (5) Emma Louisa, 
born August 28, 1878, (6) Garrett William, 
born November 15, 1880, (7) Anna Sophia, 
born January 24, 1883, (8) Julia Phcebe, 
born September 23, 1885, (9) Alfred John, 
born November 11, 1887, and (10) Eddie 
Johnson, born January 28, 1889, are all at 
home with their parents. 

After his marriage, Mr. Onken pur- 
chased his present fine farm of one hundred 
and si.xty-four acres in Hopkins township, 
to the improvement and cultivation of 
which he has since devoted his energies 
with most gratifying results. The land is 
now under a high state of cultivation and 
good and substantial buildings have been 
erected thereon. Mr. Onken is a thorough 
and skillful farmer, a man of good business 
ability, and is highly respected by all who 



know him. In politics he is a Republican, 
and in religious faith a German Lutheran. 
For the success that he has achieved in life 
he deserves great credit for it is due entirely 
to his own industry, perseverance and good 
management, and he has secured for him- 
self and family a good home and comforta- 
ble competence. 



JACOB M. VAN DEMARK is one of 
the well-to-do and prosperous citi- 
zens of Rock Falls who is able to lay 
aside business cares and spend his declining 
years in ease and quiet. He is the archi- 
tect of his own fortune, having started in 
life with but little capital beyond his own 
industry and laudable ambition to rise in 
the world. 

Mr. Van Demark was born in Ulster 
county. New York, December 18, 1 831, and 
belongs to a family of Holland origin that 
was early founded in that county. His 
paternal grandfather, Sylvester Van De- 
mark, was a native of New York and a sol- 
dier of the war of 1812. The father, Jacob 
S. \'an Demark, was born and reared in 
Ulster county, and there married Miss 
Maria Parker, a native of Connecticut, 
where her ancestors settled at an early day 
in the history of this country. After their 
marriage they continued to reside in Ulster 
county for many years, while the father 
was engaged in business as a farmer and 
mechanic. He finally came west and 
spent his last years in Sterling, Illinois, 
where he died in 1871. 

In the county of his nativity, the sub- 
ject of this sketch grew to manhood, re- 
ceiving a good common-school education 
and learning the carpenter's and joiner's 
trade, at which he worked in the east for 



36o 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



about eight years. On the 19th of Feb- 
ruary, 1856, he was united in marriage 
with Miss Mary A. Lane, who was born, 
reared and educated in the same neighbor- 
hood as her husband and successfully en- 
gaged in teaching school prior to her mar- 
riage. Her parents, Cornelius and Cather- 
ine (Elmendorf) Lane, were also natives 
of Ulster county, New York. Her fa- 
ther opened up a farm in Henry county, 
Illinois, but later came to Hume town- 
ship, Whiteside county, where he con- 
tinued to make his home throughout the 
remainder of his life. He was born 
September 17, 1800, and died April 7, 
1895, and was remarkably well preserved 
for one of his years. His wife passed away 
in 1899. They were faithful members of 
the Baptist church, and highly respected by 
all who knew them. Mr. and Mrs. Van 
Demark have two children. Fred F., the 
older, is now operating the old home farm. 
He married Minerva Arnold and has two 
children, Vernon and Mary. Irnia is the 
wife of Charles J. Lee, a farmer of Hume 
township, and they have four children, 
Wayne, Leland, Mildred and Irma. 

In 1 8 58, Mr. Van Demark accompanied 
his father-in-law on his removal to Henry 
county, Illinois, and located on the north- 
ern line of that county, where he worked at 
the carpenter's and joiner's trade for about 
two years, but in i860 he bought a forty- 
acre tract of wild land in Tampico township, 
Whiteside county, and took up his residence 
thereon. For si.\ years he engaged in the 
cultivation of that farm, and then sold and 
bought a partially improved place of eighty 
acres north of Tampico, to which he sub- 
sequently added from time to time until he 
had about three hundred acres of very 
valuable and productive land. He set out 



a good hedge fence, placed the land under a 
high state of cultivation, and erected thereon 
a large and pleasant residence and substantial 
barns and outbuildings. In connection with 
general farming he carried on stock raising 
with marked success until 1894, when he 
rented his farm and moved to Rock Falls, 
where he purchased residence property and 
converted it into a comfortable home. 

Politically,Mr. Van Demark was originally 
a Whig and cast his first presidential vote 
for Taylorin 1856, but at the next election he 
voted for Abraham Lincoln, and has since 
been a stanch Republican. While a resident 
of Tampico township he served as township 
clerk, highway commissioner, and a mem- 
ber of the school board for several years. 
While not a member of any religious organ- 
ization, he attends and gives to the support 
of the Methodist Episcopal church. He 
bears a high character for sterling integrity, 
and wherever known he is held in high re- 
gard. 



SAMUEL C. HARVEY, deceased, was a 
worthy representative of one of the old 
and prominent families of Whiteside coun- 
ty, and for many years was one of the lead- 
ing business men of Sterling. He was born 
in New York state, February 10, 1836, but 
when only two years old was brought to this 
county by his parents, Joel and Rachel 
(Cole) Harvey, also natives of New York. 
The family first located at Round Grove, but 
afterward removed to Empire, now known 
as Emerson, in Hopkins township, where he 
erected and operated woolen, grist and saw 
mills, and also ran a general store, his son 
assisting him in all his enterprises. On 
coming to the county, he also entered a 
large amount of land in Hopkins township 




SAMUEL C. HARVEY. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



363 



and devoted a part of his time to agricult- 
ural pursuits. Subsequently he removed to 
Sterling, where he engaged in mercantile 
business, but kept an interest in the other 
property. He also bored an artesian well, 
which was known as the Harvey artesian 
well and which supplied the city with water 
for a number of years. He was very ex- 
tensively engaged in the real-estate business 
and was one of the most prosperous and 
successful men of his time in this county. 
He died September 3, 1875, and his wife 
passed away March 26, 1892. 

In their family were seven children, of 
whom Samuel C. , our subject, was the eld- 
est; Elizabeth died at the age of seven 
years; Phebe is now the wife of George G. 
Keefer, of Sterling; Mary is the wife of 
Abram Waldron, of Chicago; Martha is the 
wife of J. F. Strock, of Sterling; Julia died 
in infancy; and Alice is the wife of Edgar 
H. Gait, of Sterling. 

Samuel C. Harvey acquired his element- 
ary education in the public schools of Sterl- 
ing, and later attended Knox College at 
Galesburg. On the completion of his edu- 
cation he returned home, and engaged in 
milling and fanning with his father until the 
Civil war broke out. May 24, 1861, he en- 
listed as a private in Company B, Thir- 
teenth Illinois \'olunteer Infantry, but was 
afterward made a sergeant, being mustered 
out with that rank. He took part in some 
of the most notable engagements of the 
war, but fortunately was never wounded. 

Not long after his return from the war, 
Mr. Harvey was married, December 26, 
1864, to Miss Margaret A. Dickey, who was 
born in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Decem- 
ber 23, 1833, a daughter of Thomas and 
Martha (McNeely) Dickey, also natives of 
the Keystone state. For a number of years 



her father was cashier in the bank of Lan- 
caster City, Pennsylvania. Her paternal 
grandfather was Thomas Dickey, a son of 
Moses Dickey, while her maternal grandfa- 
ther was David McNeely, a farmer of Penn- 
sylvania. Some of her maternal ancestors 
took an active part in the Revolutionary 
war. Mrs. Harvey is the third in order of 
birth in a family of five children, the others 
being Albert, who died at the age of twen- 
ty-five years; Martha, wife of Richard B. 
Witmer, of California; James, who died at 
the age of three years; and Catherine, de- 
ceased wife of T. Y. Davis, of Sterling. 
The father of these children died in 1839, 
and the mother departed this life in 1851. 

Four children were born to our subject 
and his wife, namely: Mary A., now the 
wife of E. Leroy Gait, of Sterling, by whom 
she has one son, Robert Harvey; Joel, who 
died in infancy; Samuel J., who married 
Nellie T. Robb, and is engaged in business 
in Sterling as a member of the Sterling 
Manufacturing Company, though he makes 
his home in Rock Falls; and Elsie M., who 
lives with her mother in Sterling. 

After his marriage, Mr. Harvey took up 
the occupation of farming in Hopkins town- 
ship, and continued to follow that pursuit 
for a number of years. He then removed 
lo Sterling and became a member of the 
Empire Feed Manufacturing Company, 
with which he was connected for a few 
years, while later he was interested in the 
artesian well with his father and retained 
his connection with that enterprise until a 
year or two before his death. He never 
fully recovered his usual health after his re- 
turn from the army, and died October 29, 
1883. He was an honored member of 
William Robinson post, 274, G. A. R. , and 
politically was identified with the Republic- 



364 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



an party. While residing on his farm he 
served as collector of Hopkins township. 
His personal honor and integrity were 
without blemish, and he was a brave sol- 
dier, a patriotic citizen and true friend — one 
who commanded the respect and confidence 
of all with whom he came in contact either 
in business or social life. Mrs. Harvey is 
an earnest, consistent Christian woman, a 
member of the Presbyterian church and the 
Ladies Missionary Society, and her children 
are all members of the same church. The 
family is one of social prominence in Sterl- 
ing. 



HON. JAMES M. PRATT, who is now 
practically living a retired life in the 
city of Erie, Illinois, has been a resident of 
Whiteside county a period of sixty-two 
years, and has in every sense of the word 
been one of its most useful and enterprising 
citizens, a fact which is attested by the 
many responsible positions which he has 
been called upon to fill, and by the further 
fact that he has always had the esteem and 
good will of his fellow men. He is a na- 
tive of Erie county, New York, born April 
7, 1822, and is the son of John C. and 
Hannah (Olds) Pratt, natives of Massachu- 
setts. 

John C. Pratt was the son of John Pratt, 
also a native of Massachusetts. In the war 
of 1812 he served his country faithfully, 
and at the conclusion of that struggle he 
moved to Erie county. New York, where he 
married Hannah Olds, daughter of Charles 
and Ruth Olds, and they became the par- 
ents of twelve children. Cordus, the first 
born, was scalded to death in childhood. 
Dialetha married Martin Potter, and they 
moved to Whiteside county, Illinois, where 



they were living at the time of her death in 
1845. James M. is the subject of our 
sketch. DeWitt Clinton was by profession 
a physician. He married Sarah Thompson, 
and they lived in Lee county, Illinois, 
where his death occurred in 1879. Lucre- 
tia married John Reynolds, and they made 
their home in Lyndon township, where her 
death occurred in 1845. Clymena married 
John T. Oates, and they were living in 
Fenton at the time of her death in 1847. 
Amanda was twice married. Her first hus- 
band was Samuel Emery, and after his 
death she married Joseph Shorett, and they 
now reside in Shelby county, Iowa. Lucius 
married Lucinda Garrison, and they now 
reside in Lyndon township. Charles mar- 
ried Amelia Shorett, and they resided in 
Lyndon township at the time of his death 
in 1870. Harriet F. died when a small 
child. Wheeler never married. During the 
Civil war he offered his services to his coun- 
try, and died in 1864 from fever contracted 
while in the discharge of his duties as a sol- 
dier. Thurston married Kate Kear, and 
they reside in western Iowa. In 1837 the 
family came to Whiteside county and the 
father took up about a section of land in 
Lydon township and opened up a farm. 
His death occurred in 1842. 

James M. Pratt came to Whiteside 
county in 1837 with his parents and re- 
mained with them until after he attained 
his majority. His education, begun in the 
schools of his native state, was completed 
in the schools of Whiteside county. He 
acquired industrious habits and materially 
assisted in opening up the home farm. On 
the 17th of November, 1844, he was united 
in marriage with Miss Lucinda Emery, a 
native of New York and daughter of John 
and Lucinda Emery, who were among the 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



365 



early settlers of Whiteside county. By this 
union thirteen children were born, eight of 
whom lived to maturity, two dying in mid- 
dle life. Those living are John, who mar- 
ried Sue Mahana and resides in Shelby 
county, Iowa; Varcella, wife of Jasper Car- 
penter, and living in Erie; Cyrus E., who 
married Amelia Risenbiger, the couple mak- 
ing their home in Erie; Allen M. married 
Blanche Taylor, and residing in Fenton 
township; Clinton married Lizzie James 
and residing in Rock Island, and Manston 
W. , who married Rubina Saxton, and re- 
siding in Erie. 

After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Pratt 
located in Fenton township, where in due 
time he became the owner of one thousand 
and ten acres of excellent farming land, 
which he had under cultivation. As a farmer 
and stock raiser he was an undoubted suc- 
cess, always up with the times, and the ad- 
vocate of every improvement that would 
tend to advance the agricultural and mater- 
ial interests of the community. His interest 
in agriculture was not confined to his own 
neighborhood, but was manifested in var- 
ious ways and occasions. He was chiefly 
instrumental in the organization of the fair 
in Morrison and was elected its first presi- 
dent in 1 87 1, and filled the office in a most 
acceptable manner for eight years. 

Mr. Pratt has always shown a commend- 
able interest in political affairs, and from 
the organization of the Republican party 
until 1878, he was a stanch advocate of its 
principles. In that year he differed with 
his party on the money question and be- 
came an earnest advocate of the principles 
of the Greenback party. By that organiza- 
tion, in the fall of 1879, he was elected a 
member of the legislature and served with 
credit to himself and constituents for two 



terms, taking an active part in the legisla- 
tion of the state. While residing in Fenton 
township, he served as a member of the 
county board of supervisors for sixteen 
years, being one as a member of the first 
board after the adoption of the township 
organization law. He is now the only one 
of the original number living, save William 
C. Snyder, of Fulton. His record in that 
body was as honorable as it was long. He 
also served as highway commissioner in 
Fenton township for about ten years. In 
1889 he was elected president of the village 
board in Erie and filled that position for six 
years. It mattered not what the position 
he was called on to fill, he discharged its 
obligations with fidelity and no breath of 
scandal was ever attached to his record as a 
public official. For the past three years he 
has affiliated with the Democratic party, be- 
lieving that the position taken by its leaders 
on the great questions of the day being more 
nearly in accord with the best interests of 
the people. 

After spending many years in labor on 
the farm, Mr. Pratt concluded that he had 
a right to a few years of ease, so, in 1888, 
he left the farm and moved to the village of 
Erie, where he has since resided. He later 
sold his farm and invested the proceeds in 
various ways, purchasing with part some 
sixty acres adjoining and lying within the 
corporate limits of Erie. Here, with his 
good wife, he lives in the afTections of the 
people, and with the proud satisfaction that 
his life has not been wholly in vain, but that 
he has been instrumental in doing some 
good in the world and adding to its happi- 
ness. 

Coming to this county in an early day, 
when indeed it was but a wilderness, he has 
witnessed its growth and contributed ma- 



366 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



terially to its progress. He takes pleasure 
in looking back over the years -that have 
passed, and takes delight in mingling with 
his companions of other days and recount- 
ing with them the deeds of pioneer times. 
For twelve years he acted as president of 
the Old Settlers' Society and took great in- 
terest in its meetings. Surely the life of 
such a man is worthy of emulation, and 
should be an incentive to the young in right 
living and right doing. 



SAMUEL L. WHEELOCK, a retired 
farmer and honored citizen of Rock 
Falls, who was for forty years actively iden- 
tified with the agricultural interests of 
Whiteside county, is a native of Massachu- 
setts, born in Berkshire county, January 
26, 1825, and comes of a family of English 
origin which was founded in the new world 
in colonial days. His paternal grandfather, 
Samuel Wheelock, was a soldier of the Rev- 
olutionary war, and during that struggle he 
located in Berkshire county, Massachusetts, 
where he cleared and developed the farm 
on which our subject and his father, Luther 
Wheelock, were both born. Our subject's 
great-grandfather also bore the name of 
Samuel. In his native county, Luther 
Wheelock grew to manhood and married 
Clarissa Marcy, also a native of Massachu- 
setts, and a daughter of Lavvton Marcy, one 
of the early settlers of Berkshire county. 
The father of our subject continued to re- 
side on the old homestead farm until 1865, 
when he sold the place and later removed 
to Blandford, Hampden county, Massachu- 
setts, where he spent his last days. 

In much the usual manner of farmers' 
sons of his day, Samuel L. Wheelock passed 
his boyhood and youth on the old home- 



stead, receiving rather a limited education 
by attending school only through the winter 
months. In 1844, at the age of twenty 
years, he was married in Berkshire county, 
to Miss Almena R. Langdon, who was born 
in Hampden county, but was reared in 
Berkshire county, Massachusetts. Her fa- 
ther, Amos Langdon, was also a representa- 
tive of an old and honored family of that 
state. 

In 1854 Mr. Wheelock left the east and 
came to Whiteside county, Illinois, and 
spent the first winter in Portland. He then 
located in Prophetstown, where he worked 
at anything he could find to do for about 
si.\ years. Subsequently he operated rented 
land in Prophetstown township for three 
years, and then purchased one hundred and 
si.xtj' acres of land in Hume township, — a 
part of his present farm. This he fenced, 
improved and placed under a high state of 
cultivation, and as his financial resources 
permitted he added to it from time to time 
until he has four hundred acres all in one 
body. He set out fruit and forest trees, 
erected good and siibstantial buildings and 
made many other improvements which added 
greatly to the value and attractive appear- 
ance of the place. In connection with gen- 
eral farming he also engaged in raising and 
feeding stock for market, but in 1893, he 
laid aside business cares and responsibilities 
and has since lived retired in Rock Falls. 

Mr. Wheelock has been called upon to 
mourn the loss of his estimable wife, who 
died January 3, 1892, and was laid to rest 
in Tatnpico cemetery, where a neat monu- 
ment has been erected to her memory. 
They had three children, namely: Amanda, 
who now keeps house for her father, is the 
widow of William Dennison, and has two 
children, Herbert and William, both of 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



367 



whom are married and reside in this county; 
Elbert E. is a farmer of Tampico township; 
and Luther A. carries on the old homestead 
farm. 

Since the organization of the Republican 
party, Mr. Wheelock has been one of its 
stanch supporters, but has never been a pol- 
itician in the sense of office seeking, though 
he served one term as supervisor and sev- 
eral terms as township trustee. He is a 
faithful member of the Congregational 
church of Rock Falls, and merits and re- 
ceives the confidence and respect of all who 
know him. The success that he has 
achieved in life is due entirely to his own 
unaided efforts for he started out to make 
his own way in the world empty-handed, 
and by industry, perseverance and good 
management worked his way upward until 
he is now a substantial and prosperous man, 
owning a large and valuable farm in Hume 
township, and a pleasant home in Rock 
Falls. After a useful and honorable career, 
he can well afford to lay aside all business 
cares and live in ease and retirement. 



EDGAR H. GALT. One of the busiest, 
most energetic and most enterprising 
men of Sterling, Illinois, is the subject of 
this sketch, a prominent loan and real es- 
tate dealer. On the maternal side he comes 
from good old Revolutionary stock, and he 
is in every way a splendid type of our best 
American citizenship. 

Mr. Gait was born in Sterling, August 
19, 1855, a son of Capt. James and Mary 
(Culver) Gait. The father, was born in 
Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, June 29, 
1826, and was a son of John and Sarah M. 
(Buyers) Gait, also natives of that county, 
the former born May 3, 1801, the latter 



August 14, 1805. The Gait family in 
America is descended from James Gait, a 
native of Ireland, who came to this country 
in the beginning of the seventeenth century 
and settled on the head waters of the Pequea 
in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. In the 
east the grandfather of our subject engaged 
in general merchandising and also followed 
milling for a number of years. On the 19th 
of May, 1844, he, with his family, consist- 
ing of wife and thirteen children, landed in 
\\'hiteside county, Illinois, and for a number 
of years he conducted a general store in 
Sterling. He then purchased a tract of 
land in Hopkins township and laid out the 
town of Gait, and was one of the most ex- 
tensive land owners in the county at that 
time. He died August 24, 1868, and his 
wife passed away October 25, 1898. Of 
their thirteen children, five are still living, 
namely: John B., Elizabeth, Joseph, Mrs. 
D. M. Crawford and Mrs. John Buyers, all 
residents of Sterling. 

Captain James Gait, the father of our sub- 
ject, received a common-school education, 
but as he left school at the age of fifteen 
years the greater part of his knowledge was 
acquired by reading and observation m sub- 
sequent years. At the age of sixteen he 
entered his father's store in Sterling, as 
clerk, and later engaged in general mer- 
chandising on his own account with James 
Crawford, being in partnership with that 
gentleman for four years. At the end of 
that period he turned his attention to the 
real estate and loan business, and also be- 
came a very extensive land holder. He was 
quite a prominent and intluential man of 
his community and was called upon to ad- 
minister a number of estates. He was also 
made one of the first aldermen of the city, 
was school trustee and held other local of- 



368 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



fices. On the I2th of March, 1862, he 
was appointed quartermaster in the army 
with the rank of captain, and was assigned 
to the Army of the Potomac under General 
Sherman. While on duty he was captured 
by Colonel Moseby and his guerrillas, and 
for ninety days was incarcerated in Libby 
prison, at the end of which time he was 
paroled and exchanged. He never recov- 
ered his usual health after returning home, 
and died October 3, 1869. Of his three 
children, two died in infancy, leaving our 
subject the only surviving member of the 
family, as the wife and mother died De- 
cember 30, 1859, at the early age of twen- 
ty-three years. She was born in Pennsyl- 
vania, May II, 1836, a daughter of Will- 
iam and Huldah (Bowman) Culver. Her 
father, who was a farmer by occupation, 
died in Michigan, after which the mother 
with her daughter came to Whiteside coun- 
ty. Illinois, at an early day, and took up her 
residence in Sterling. Subsequently she 
married Joseph Crawford, and she died in 
Dixon, Illinois, January 24, 1897, at an 
advanced age. 

Left an orphan at an early age, Edgar 
H. Gait was reared by relatives, and was 
educated in the public schools of Sterling 
and at the college of Mount Vernon, Iowa. 
He began his business career as a breeder 
and raiser of fancy stock, and continued to 
follow that occupation until 1894, when he 
embarked in the real estate and loan busi- 
ness, to which he has since devoted his time 
and energies with most gratifying results. 

On the 7th of June, 1877, Mr. Gait was 
united in marriage with Miss Alice R. 
Harvey, a native of this county, and a 
daughter of Joel and Rachel Harvey, who 
were born in New York state and came to 
Whiteside county, Illinois, at a very early 



day. Her father, who was a wagonmaker 
by trade, entered quite a large tract of land 
in Hopkins township, and at what is now 
known as Emerson, but at that time was 
called Empire, he erected a blacksmith shop, 
wagon shop, gristmill, carding and woolen 
mill, which he conducted in connection with 
the operation of several farms. Later he sold 
his property in Empire and removed to 
Sterling, where he established a general 
store and brickyard, and became one of the 
most successful men and capitalists of the 
place. He died in 1875, and his wife de- 
parted this life March 26, 1892. They had 
seven children, Samuel, Elizabeth, Phebe, 
Mary, Martha, Julia and Alice, of whom 
four are still living. To Mr. and Mrs. Gait 
were born two children: James E., who 
was born June 28, 1878, died at the age of 
twelve years; and Ralph, who was born May 
28, 1882, and is now attending the Sterling 
high school. Fraternally Mr. Gait is a 
member of the Modern Woodmen of Amer- 
ica, the Mystic Workers of the World, and 
the Home Guards, and politically he is 
identified with the Republican party. Asa 
business man and a citizen he stands high 
in the esteem of his fellowmen, and his 
pleasant, genial manner wins him friends and 
has made a popular citizen of his native 
city. 



HENRY POTT. Among the influential 
and prominent citizens of Hahnaman 
township, who are indebted for their present 
prosperous condition to their own industry 
and energy, is the gentleman whose name 
introduces this sketch. He has been a resi- 
dent of the county since September, 1853, 
and now owns and occupies a fine farm of 
two hundred and forty acres on section 27, 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



369 



Hahnaman township, adjoining the village 
of Deer Grove. 

Mr. Pott is a native of Germany, born 
near Cologne, Prussia, July 14, 1844, and 
is a son of Jacob and Catherine (Straugh) 
Pott, also natives of the Fatherland, where 
the former followed the occupation of farm- 
ing until 1853, when he emigrated with his 
family to the United States. He came 
direct to Chicago, Illinois, then traveling by 
wagon from Peru to Sterling and arriving 
in the latter city sometime in September. 
There he was befriended by a German tailor, 
as on reaching here his funds were ex- 
hausted. At first he worked at any thing 
which he could find to do, and then en- 
gaged in farming upon rented land. At 
length he was able to purchase one hundred 
and twenty acres of wild land, and to it he 
subsequently added until he had two hun- 
dred and forty acres of valuable land, which 
he placed under a high state of cultivation 
and improved with good buildings. Finally 
he retired from active labor and moved to 
Sterling, where he bought residence prop- 
erty and lived retired until called from this 
life in 1881. His wife survived him until 
1893, and they now sleep side by side in the 
Sterling cemetery. In their family were si.x 
children, namely: Christ, a farmer of Lee 
county, Illinois; Henry, our subject; 
Mathias, a farmer of Portland township, 
Whiteside county; Barbara, wife of Henry 
Flock, a retired citizen of Sterling; Mary, 
wife of William Weber, a farmer of Hum- 
phrey, Nebraska; and Peter, who died in. 
Sterling during childhood. 

In this county, Henry Pott was reared, 
and in the country schools he acquired his 
education. He aided in the work of the 
home farm until after the Civil war broke 
out, when, on the nth of August, 1862, at 



the age of eighteen years, he enlisted as a 
private in Company D, Seventy-fifth Illinois 
Volunteer Infantry. With the Army of the 
Cumberland, he participated in the battle of 
Perryville, where was slightly wounded by 
a gunshot in the hip, and later took part in 
the skirmish at Lancaster, Kentucky, and 
the battle of Stone River, Tennessee. La- 
ter he was on detached duty guarding rail- 
roads in Tennessee, and subsequently took 
part in the battles of Missionary Ridge, 
Lookout Mountain, and the Atlanta cam- 
paign, at which time he was almost con- 
stantly under fire for si.x months. He was 
also in the battles of Jonesboro and Lovejoy 
Station. He was again wounded by a gun- 
shot which shattered the bone of his nose 
and carried away his left eye. Thus per- 
manently disabled, he was taken first to the 
field hospital, later to what was originally a 
rebel hospital in Atlanta, then to Chicka- 
mauga hospital, and from there to a Nash- 
ville hospital. No. 14. Subsequently he 
was sent to Louisville, and from there to 
a Jeffersonville hospital, where he remained 
some time. He was then given a furlough 
and came home to cast his first vote for 
Abraham Lincoln. Afterward he spent 
some time in the Jeffersonville hospital, and 
was then taken down the Ohio river to 
Mound City, where he was honorably dis- 
charged in February, 1865. 

After his return home, Mr. Pott aided in 
the operation of the home farm until his 
other eye became affected and he nearly lost 
the sight of that also, but it finally got all 
right. He and his brother Christ afterward 
rented the home place and carried it on to- 
gether for three years. The following year 
our subject engaged in farming there alone, 
and then bought one hundred and twenty 
acres of his present farm, which at that time 



370 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



was partially improved. He has since ex- 
tended its boundaries until he now has two 
hundred and forty acres, which he has placed 
undere.xcellentcultivationand improved with 
good buildings, which stand as a monument 
to his thrift and enterprise. 

On the loth of October, 1869, Mr. Pott 
was united in marriage with Miss Mary 
Spangler, a native of Pennsylvania, who 
during the war of the Rebellion came to this 
county with her parents, George and Eliza- 
beth Spangler. By this union nine children 
have been born, namely: Henry C, en- 
gaged in the livery business in Prophets- 
town; Jacob R., George A. and Albert B., 
who help carry on the home farm; Lizzie 
M., Emma, Catherine, Frances and Gen- 
eveive Angeline, all at home. 

In his political affiliations, Mr. Pott is an 
ardent Republican, and has served as a del- 
egate to the county conventions of his 
party, and is now a member of the town- 
ship Republican committee. For twenty- 
five years he has been an active member of 
the school board, has been clerk of the dis- 
trict some years, a drainage commissioner 
six years, and is now commissioner of high- 
ways and treasurer of the board. His of- 
ficial duties have been discharged with the 
utmost promptness and fidelity, winning for 
him the commendation of all concerned. 
Religiously he and his wife are members of 
the Catholic church of Sterling. 



ELWOOD J. PITTMAN. Numbered 
among the wide-awake, energetic young 
•business and loyal citizens of Sterling is 
Elwood J. Pittman, who, though he has not 
reached the quarter of a century mile post 
in the highway of life, has already made a 



name and place for himself in the knowl- 
edge and esteem of the general public. 

His paternal grandfather was born May 
I, 1798, and died October 2, 1875, a few 
months after the birth of our subject. The 
latter's paternal grandmother was born on 
the 2 1st of February, 1804, and died in 
Pennsylvania, May 31, 1844. Five years 
subsequently, the grandfather came to the 
west, where he found plenty of employment 
at his trades as a mechanic and carpenter, 
and at the end of two years he bought a 
farm of eighty acres, situated in Hopkins 
township, Whiteside county, and continued 
to dwell there until his demise. His chil- 
dren were eight in number, four of them 
being sons. Mary, the eldest daughter, 
born January 7, 1827, became the wife of 
William Jones, and died in 1S65; Elizabeth, 
born August 22, 1828, died in 1897. She 
was her father's housekeeper for a number 
of years after the death of her mother. 
Sarah, born August 21, 1S30, and unmar- 
ried, resides with her brother, David. 
Benjamin, born January 23, 1831, has 
never married, and now lives in Kansas. 
Abram, born October 10, 1833, married 
Esther Pittman, and they have five children. 
Their home is in Oklahoma. During the 
Civil war, Benjamin and Abram enlisted in 
the Ninety-second Regiment of Illinois Vol- 
unteer Infantry, and were in the service for 
some six months. William, born March 
13, 1836, married Susan Lamb, and has 
two children. They reside in Sterling. 
Susanna, born February 18, 1840, died 
June 15, 1875, unmarried. 

David, father of E. J. Pittman, was 
born March 26, 1836, in Bedford county, 
Pennsylvania, and in 1849 accompanied his 
father and other members of the family, to 
Illinois. Here he was employed as a farmer 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



371 



and niacie a comfortable home for his bride. 
On the 12th of September, 1861, he married 
Hester Johnson, by whom he had four chil- 
dren. Royal S. , born July 29, 1 862, chose for 
a wife Hattie Mensch, their marriage being 
celebrated February 28, 1884. Their home 
is in Sterling, where he is financially inter- 
ested in the street-sprinkling system, and is 
engaged in general teaming. He is the 
father of three children: Milan W., born 
December 2, 1865, married Nora Peugh, 
and has three children. The home of the 
family is in Carroll county. Clara M., born 
July 12, 1870, lives at home and is em- 
ployed as a teacher in the city schools. The 
father of Mrs. David Pittman, Robert John- 
son, was born March 8, 1797, in Pennsyl- 
vania, and her mother, Rebecca ( ) 

Johnson, was born July 13, 1807. This 
worthy couple had twelve children. The 
eldest, Louise, born August i, 1820, and 
now living in Round Grove, this county, is 
the widow of John Armstrong, by whom she 
had seven children: Joseph, born June 24, 
1828, died, unmarried, when twenty-two 
years of age. Elizabeth, born December i, 
1830, is the widow of Lanson Winke, who 
died in 1889, at their home in Sterling. 
They were the parents of fifteen children: 
Margaret, born January 2, 1833, and now 
living at Emerson, Illinois, is the widow of 
Martin Ryerson, who died in the spring of 
1897, leaving four children. Sarah .Ann, 
born February 22, 1835, married William 
Petty, had seven children, and with her 
husband has passed to the silent land. Den- 
ton, born February 14, 1837, died when 
twenty-two years old, having been killed 
by a stroke of lightning. Nancy, born 
March 16, 1839, is the widow of Emanuel 
Metzger, his death having occurred in Octo- 
ber, 1897. She lives in Missouri, and four 
21 



of her children survive: Robert, born Febru- 
ary 8, 1843, married Mary Tuttle, and has 
two children. Their home is in Hopkins 
township. Emma R., born December 25, 
1844, married Christ Hershey, and became 
the mother of four children. She died in 
1891. William, born April 7, 1847, wedded 
Ella Kendall, and has four children. He 
resides in Iowa, and has survived his wife, 
who died in 1894. Harriet, born August 
23, 1S49, died at the age of five years. 

The year after his wedding David Pitt- 
man settled upon the homestead, which has 
ever since been his place of residence. It 
comprises one hundred and twenty acres, 
situated in Hopkins township, and the many 
substantial improvements which he has made 
renders this one of the most valuable 
country homes in the county. He is a Re- 
publican, and takes an interested part in 
local affairs, warmly championing every- 
thing conducing to the advancement of the 
county. Religiously he is a member of the 
English Lutheran church. 

Elwood J. Pittman, youngest son of 
David Pittman, was born June 17, 1875; 
and in his boyhood he attended the public 
schools of this bis native township. Later, 
in order to better equip himself for the 
duties of life, he went to the commercial 
college in Sterling, where he pursued a 
course of bookkeeping and qualified him- 
self in banking and general business trans- 
actions. On his father's farm, he thor- 
oughly learned agriculture in its varions 
branches, and being exceptionally well 
posted on the values of machinery, live 
stock and farm propert}', he commenced 
the business of auctioneer before he was 
twenty years of age. Possessing all of the 
essential business qualifications for this dif- 
ficult and arduous calling, he has made a 



372 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



great success of it, and for some years he 
no doubt carried the palm as being the 
youngest auctioneer in the state. He is 
known, not only in all parts of this and ad- 
joining counties, but has sometimes been 
called into different portions of the state. 
In the autumn of 1898 and the spring of the 
following year he presided over fifty-five 
sales, and in the fall of 1899 he has super- 
intended twenty-two auctions. During the 
past year he has made his home in Sterling, 
and, in partnership with his brother, has 
capital invested in the city street sprinkling 
system. He has won a gratifying measure 
of success within a short period of time, and 
bids fair to become wealthy and influential. 
From his youth, Mr. Pittman has been 
an ardent believer in the policy of the Re- 
publican party. Fraternally, he is affiliated 
with the Knights of the Globe, and lodge 
No. 3563, Modern Woodmen of America, of 
Gait. Personally, he is deservedly popular 
with everyone, and a brilliant future is be- 
fore him. 



ROBERT H. DONICHY. One of the 
foremost business men of Morrison is 
Robert H. Donichy, who is in the prime of 
life, and possesses the enthusiasm and en- 
terprise which are apt to mark that period 
in the career of an American. Integrity and 
strict attention to the wishes of the public 
have led to his success, and, without ex- 
ception, his patrons are his friends. 

In tracing his history, it is found that he 
is a native of Lancaster county, Pennsyl- 
vania, his birth having occurred August 5, 
1861. He is one of the ten children of 
Joseph and Mary A. (Allison) Donichy, the 
father a native of Lancaster county, born 
May 16, 1820, and the mother born in 



Charlestown, West Virginia, June 15,1822. 
She removed to the Keystone state when a 
child and was married there on the 21st of 
March, 1844. Laura, her eldest child, born 
January 23, 1845, died at the age of four 
years. Susan A., born April 13, 1846, be- 
came the wife of J. Strouse, a railroad en- 
gineer, who died in 1882. She is living at 
present in Philadelphia with her daughter 
Laura. Joseph R., born April 24, 1848, 
departed this life at his home in Sterling, 
Illinois, in 1886. He had married Emma 
Lytle, in Pennsylvania, and three children 
graced their union, Frank and Lizzie, and 
one who died when young. David A., born 
August 4, 1850, is an old and trusted em- 
ploye of the Northwestern Railway, and is 
now the agent at Nelson, Illinois. His wife 
formerl}' was Anna Scott, of Como, Illinois, 
and their children are four in number: 
James F., born December 16, 1852, died in 
infancy. Isaac H., born August 6, 1854, is 
engaged in the grocery business in Morrison. 
He married Retha Overecker, of Ashton, 
Illinois, and their five children are: Edith, 
Laura, Don, Marie and James B. Mary 
E., born May 29, 1856, is the wife of Harry 
Reed, a farmer of Hopkins township, and 
they have six children, ^^'illiam C, born 
March 22, 1858, and now employed as a 
conductor on the Chicago & Northwestern 
Railway, is married, and of their two chil- 
dren, one is deceased. Samuel B., born 
January 23, 1866, and unmarried, is an en- 
gineer in the employ of the same railroad 
corporation, as are two of his brothers, and 
at present his headquarters are in Chicago. 
After the close of the Civil war, Joseph 
Donichy determined to come to Illinois, and 
in 1867 located upon a farm near Como, 
Whiteside county. There he dwelt for nine 
years, when, disposing of his property, he 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



373 



removed to the town of Empire (now Em- 
erson) and leased a residence for six months. 
In company with his estimable wife, he vis- 
ited the Centennial exposition, and, upon 
his return, purchased a farm situated north 
of Emerson. In 1S84 he retired, and from 
that time until his demise, April 21, 1889, 
made his home in Sterling. His wife, sur- 
viving him a few years, was called to her re- 
ward, April 6, 1896. 

Robert H. Donichy received a common- 
school education in Como and Emerson, 
and, imder the training which he obtained 
on the old homestead, became a practical 
agriculturist. In 1885 he removed to Mor- 
rison and purchased a livery business, in 
which line of enterprise he continued suc- 
cessfully for a period of four years. Then, 
disposing of the livery, he invested the pro- 
ceeds in a grocery at Sterling, but as soon 
as he could he sold the stock, and, return- 
ing to Morrison, bought out Mr. Clark, and 
from that time until the present has con- 
ducted a livery, as formerly. In addition 
to this, he is an auctioneer of more than av- 
erage ability, and his services in this line 
are in great requisition throughout this sec- 
tion of the state. By his own merit he has 
won the good opinion of the people of this 
locality, and financial success is crowning 
his labors. Politically, he is a Republican, 
and, fraternally, he is a Knight of Pythias. 

On the 1 8th of December, 1883, Mr. 
Donichy and Addie M. Miller, daughter of 
J. J. and Catherine (Seidel) Miller, were 
united in marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Miller 
were natives of Germany, but when young 
they came to the United States and were 
married in La Salle. During the '50s they 
located in Sterling, where Mr. Miller plied 
his trade as a baker, which calling he had 
learned in Germany. Mrs. Donichy's eldest 



sister, Sophia, is the wife of D. A. Bricker, 
of Sterling, and has one child, Jessie. Ja- 
cob and Annie are unmarried and residents 
of Sterling. Henry died in California, and 
Moses is a merchant tailor of Di-xon, Illi- 
nois. Mrs. Donichy, who was born in this 
city, August 4, 1 86 1, has become the mother 
of two sons and two daughters, namely: 
Helen L. , Harry M., James R. and Anna 
Louise. 



HENRY E. GERDES. This worthy 
citizen of Hopkins township, White- 
side county, is a native of Oldenberg, Ger- 
many, born January 3, 1830. His father, 
John H. Gerdes, whose birth occurred in 
the -same city February 24, 1797, mar- 
ried Gertie Smith, who was born in 1796. 
Of their si.x children, the eldest, Hilly Maria, 
died at the age of two years, and Edo died 
in infancy. Ida C, becoming the wife of 
John B. Euken, of Oldenberg, came to the 
United States in 1879, and with her five 
children reside in Cass county, Iowa. 
Gerhardine, born in 1833, married Meint 
Carstens, in 1854, and has four sons: Folk- 
ert, Herman, George and Anton, the latter 
now living in Cass county, Iowa. George, 
who was employed in Queen's hospital, in 
Honolulu, died with the yellow fever. Her- 
man, born February 2, 1836, and now de- 
ceased, was married in Germany and reared 
two sons and a daughter, while two of his 
sons have passed awaj'. His widow re- 
married and is now a resident of Nebraska. 
The father of our subject owned a farm in 
Germany and continued to dwell there until 
his death. 

The marriage of Henry E. Gerdes and 
Margaret Hayungs, who was born October 
4, 1833, was solemnized June 17, 1854, in 



374 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Oldenberg, and shortly afterward the young 
couple started for the United States. Com- 
ing to Illinois, they located near Prairie- 
ville, Lee county, residing there for four 
years. Then, coming to Hopkins township, 
Mr. Gerdes bought a quarter section of 
school land, which property he later sold. 
He resided in that township for twenty-five 
years, and for four years owned and culti- 
vated a farm in Kansas. In 1888 he re- 
turned to this county, and after carrying on 
a farm of one hundred and seven acres m 
Genesee township for si.x years he purchased 
a place in Coleta. This property, compris- 
ing a comfortable house and seven acres of 
land, afforded him a good home for his de- 
clining years, but, in addition to this, he 
owns three hundred and sixty-two acres of 
excellent farm land — one hundred and 
thirty-five acres situated in Hopkins town- 
ship, one hundred and twenty acres on sec- 
tions 30 and 31, and one hundred and seven 
acres on section 21, Genesee township. As 
a farmer he has met with well-deserved suc- 
cess, and in all his undertakings has been 
prospered. 

The first wife of our subject departed 
this life March 26, 1856, and was placed to 
rest in Brown vi He cemetery. Their two 
children, twins, died in infancy. For a sec- 
ond, wife Mr. Gerdes chose Rebecca M. 
Cohenour, their union being celebrated April 
25, 1858. Her father, Joseph M. Cohenour, 
was born in 1809, in Lancaster county, 
Pennsylvania, and married Mary Morland, 
of the same state. Their eldest child, Nancy 
Jane, born February 5, 1830, married Jacob 
Myers, of Genesee township, and their four 
children are: Mary Ellen, Joseph, Ann 
Eliza and John Andrew. Rebecca M. , born 
December 25, 1831, is the next in order of 
birth. Peter, born September 23, 1S33, 



married Susan Cruthers, now deceased, and 
makes his home with his six children — 
Frank, Elizabeth, Samuel, Lydia, Robert 
and Margaret. Eliza M., born July 31, 
1835, is the widow of Joseph Miller, and 
resides in Clyde township. Their six chil- 
dren are named as follows: Harvey, Joseph, 
Mary, Hannah, Alpharelta and John. 
Thomas, born May 23. 1837, died, unmar- 
ried, at the age of eighteen years. Margaret 
E., born April 22, 1842, died at the age of 
two years. Catherine, born December 29, 
1844, married John Reed, and is the mother 
of four children — Isaac, Maud, Albert and 
Edmond. Joseph, born April 3, 1847, mar- 
ried Amanda Mann, and their children are 
Vernon and Hazel. David, born Septem- 
ber 19, 1850, married Catherine Runyon, 
and has several children. Joseph M. Cohen- 
our was a machinist by trade, and was act- 
ive in the affairs of the community. Polit- 
ically he was a Republican, and religiously 
a Dunkard. Both he and his wife died in 
Illinois and are buried in Rock Creek 
cemetery. 

Eight children were born to Henry E. 
and Rebecca M. Gerdes. John H., the 
eldest, married Mary Yeager and had the 
following named children: Henry C; Mary, 
deceased; John, who married Dora Journey; 
Clara, who died at the age of nine years; 
Ann Eliza died at the age of nine months, 
and Joseph L. died when about two years 
old. David E. , a minister in the Dunkard 
church, preaches at Clyde and Rock Creek 
alternate Sundays. He married Ellen Bech- 
tel, February 8, 1888, and their five chil- 
dren are named respectively: Ephraim L., 
Rebecca H., Wayne, Galen Glenn and 
Henry Ralph. The family reside in Clyde 
township. Herman E., now living in Ari- 
zona, wedded Mary Glaze in 1888, and their 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



375 



children are Ethel, Emma, Isabella and 
Lester. Lemuel J., whose home is situated 
about one mile south of Coleta, in Gene- 
see township, married Lillie Harrison, De- 
cember II, 1896, and their two children 
are Margaret A. and Elberta Rebecca. Laura 
Ellen became the wife of J. C. Kingsbury, 
February 2, 1892. The young couple, who 
have a pleasant home in Coleta, have a lit- 
tle daughter, Olive M. Emma C. resides, 
with her husband, William Becker, on one 
of her father's farms in Genesee townshp. 
She was married January 11, 1895, and has 
two sons, EUery Ronald and Arthur Eden. 
In manner, Mr. H. E. Gerdes is very 
quiet and unassuming and has the reputa- 
tion of being generous to a fault, and ever 
ready to respond to the call of the needy 
and destitute. Formerly, he was a German 
Lutheran in religious faith, but becoming 
convinced that the creed of the Dunkard 
church is the most suited to the needs of 
humanity, he embraced its tenets, and has 
been an active and valued worker in the 
cause. Politically, he was formerly a 
Democrat, but the policy of the Republican 
party, especially during the last few years, 
appealed strongly to him, and he now gives 
that organization his allegiance. 



JOSEPH MILLER, deceased, was for 
over forty years prominently identified 
with the agricultural interests of Whiteside 
county, and was honored and respected by 
all who knew him. He was born in Cum- 
berland county, Pennsylvania, July 23, 
1802, a son of Lewis and Barbara (Meyers) 
Miller, farming people of that state. On 
reaching man's estate our subject took up 
the occupation to which he had been reared 
and successfully engaged in farming through- 



out life. He remained in Pennsylvania 
until 1840, and then came to Whiteside 
county, Illinois, locating in Newton town- 
ship when much of his locality was still in 
its primitive condition. He aided in the 
early development and improvement of the 
county, and converted a tract of wild land 
into a fine farm of four hundred and eighty 
acres, upon which he continued to make 
his home until called from this life Septem- 
ber 2, 1884. 

Mr. Miller was thrice married. On the 
24th of May, 1832, he wedded Miss Sarah 
Grier, who died September 18, 1836. By 
this union two children were born: Rachel 
Ann, who was born April i, 1833, and is 
now the wife of Joshua Salehamer; and 
Lewis Grier, who was born February 9, 
1835, and is now deceased. Mr. Miller 
was again married, March 14, 1839, his 
second union being with Miss Elizabeth 
Thompson, by whom he had seven chil- 
dren, namely: Joseph A., who was born 
March 9, 1841, and died in the Union army 
during the Civil war; Sarah L., born Sep- 
tember 7, 1842; John N., who was born 
April 6, 1844, and is now deceased: Mary 
Jane, born March 3, 1846; Samuel Thomp- 
son, born August 11, 1848; William M., 
born Jul}' 10, 1S50; and Moses F., born 
May 8, 1853. The mother of these chil- 
dren died October 4, 1867. On the 19th 
of January, 1869, Mr. Miller was united in 
marriage with Mrs. Katherine Ege, and to 
them was born one child, Joseph A., born 
April 10, 1871. Mrs. Miller was born in 
Pennsylvania, September 14, 1832, a 
daughter of Peter and Nancy Keisch. She 
was first married, June 20, 1852, to Joseph 
Ege, and by that union four children were 
born: \\'illiam L., born October 29, 1853, 
is deceased; Charles F. , born July 20, 



376 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



1856, is living; Eva M., born November 
25, 1858, married S. H. Arrell, but is now 
deceased; and Hettie B. was born March 
31, 1861. 

Politically Mr. Miller was a stanch sup- 
porter of the Democratic party, and during 
his life time held several township offices, 
the duties of which he most capably dis- 
charged. He was widely and favorably 
known, and in his death the community 
realized that it had lost one of its valued 
and useful citizens. 



JOHN REED, who owns and operates 
one hundred and eighty acres of land on 
section 12, Jordan township, Whiteside coun- 
ty, is one of the successful farmers of the com- 
munity, and all that he has is the acquire- 
ment of years of earnest, honest toil. His 
has been an active and useful business 
career, and he commands the respect of all 
with whom he has been brought in contact. 
Mr. Reed was born in Emerson, this 
county. May 21, 1855, a son of Benjamin 
and Harriet (Clark) Reed, who were natives 
of Franklin county, Pennsylvania, and were 
married there. They became the parents 
of ten children, namely: Ellen, who be- 
came the wife of James McDowell, a farmer 
residing near Emerson, by whom she has 
five children; Frank, who died in childhood; 
Emily, wife of Joseph Bednar. now a resi- 
dent of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, five children 
having been born of their union; George, who 
died in childhood; Kate, who like those 
named above was born in Franklin county, 
Pennsylvania, and is now the wife of Joseph 
Lockhart, of Topeka, I\ansas; John, of this 
review; Reuben, a resident of Sterling, who 
married Barbara I\ehr, and has five chil- 



dren; Clara, wife of Frank Taylor, of Ster- 
ling, and the mother of two children ; Arthur, 
twin brother of Clara; and Edna, the young- 
est of the family. 

The subject of this review resided with 
his parents in Hopkins township, Whiteside 
county, until twenty-three years of age, and 
became familiar with all the duties and labors 
that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. On 
leaving home he rented land and also 
worked for others until he purchased his ' 
present farm in Jordan township. He has 
been very successful in his farming opera- 
tions, and although he began business for 
himself on a small scale he is now the owner 
of one of the valuable properties in the 
township. One hundred and eighty acres 
of rich land yield to him a golden tribute in 
return for the care and labor he bestows 
upon it, and the e.xcellent improvements 
and substantial buildings upon the place 
stand as monuments to his thrift and enter- 
prise. 

On the 28th of December, 1886, Mr. 
Reed was united in marriage to Miss Emma 
Carolus, a daughter of Isaac and Amelia 
(Binkley) Carolus, who were natives of 
Franklin county, Pennsylvania, but now re- 
side in Sterling, Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. 
Reed now have three children: Alice, Ada 
and Clara. He is one of the leading citi- 
zens of the community, and his fellow 
townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability, 
have frequently called him to public office. 
He has served as school director and high- 
way commissioner, discharging his duties with 
promptness and fidelity. He is a member 
of Sterling camp. No. 12, M. W. A,, in 
politics is a Democrat, and religiously is 
connected with the English Lutheran 
church. In all life's relations he is true and 
faithful to the trust reposed in him, and as 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



377 



one of the representative farmers of his 
native county, he well deserves mention in 
in this volume. 



JOSIAH S. SCOTT. The subject of 
this review is one whose history touches 
the pioneer epoch in the annals of White- 
side county and one whose days have be- 
come an integral part of that indissoluble 
chain which linked the early formative 
period with that of latter-day progress and 
prosperity. He bore an active and promi- 
nent part in the early development and 
prosperity of the county and now after an 
honorable and useful life he has lived re- 
tired in Rock Falls, his home being on 
Tenth avenue. 

Mr. Scott was born in Morgan county, 
Ohio, May i8, 1819, and belongs to one of 
the pioneer families of that state. His 
father, Jesse Scott, Jr., was born in Luzerne 
county, Pennsylvania, in 1790, and was a 
son of Jesse Scott, Sr., also a native of 
Pennsylvania. At an early day they re- 
moved to Ohio, and were among the first 
to locate in Morgan county, where in the 
midst of the wilderness they cleared and 
improved farms. There the father of our 
subject married Miss Anna Sherman, a 
granddaughter of Abel Sherman, who was 
the last white man killed by the Indians in 
Ohio. In connection with farming, Jesse 
Scott, Jr., followed the millwright's trade. 
He was a natural mechanic and very handy 
at any kind of work. In 183S he built a 
large river boat which he launched on the 
Muskingum river, and loaded with different 
kinds of stock, domestic fowls, farm ma- 
chinery, tools and provisions. In this he 
and his father, together with the family of 
Conklin, started for Illinois. The boat was 



supplied with sails, which were used when 
the wind was in the right direction, but at 
other times it was propelled by horse 
power. They floated down the Ohio, and 
up the Mississippi and Rock rivers to Rock 
Falls. Mr. Scott then sold his boat and 
took up a homestead in this county. Here 
he spent his remaining years, dying Decem- 
ber 14, 1S79. His wife had passed away 
in 1875, both dying in the arms of our sub- 
ject. 

As Josiah S. Scott had no school ad- 
vantages in his youth, he is wholly a self- 
educated man. He grew to manhood in 
his native state and in early life learned the 
carpenter's, joiner's and cabinet maker's 
trade, and after coming to Illinois worked 
as a carpenter at intervals for some years. 
Returning to Ohio, he was married in Del- 
aware county, March 13, 1846, to Miss 
Harriet J. Coryell, who was born in Penn- 
sylvania, but was reared in Delaware county, 
Ohio, of which her father, John M. Coryell, 
was a pioneer settler. He brought his 
bride to his new home in Whiteside county, 
Illinois. In Hume township he purchased 
one hundred and sixty acres of government 
land, to which he later added until he had 
three hundred and twenty acres of land in 
the home place. He also bought and im- 
proved other farms, and now has three 
patents of lands, signed by presidents of the 
United States. Upon his land he erected 
good and substantial buildings and success- 
fully engaged in general farming and stock 
raising for many years. He was the first in 
his community to engage in the breeding of 
pure blooded short horn cattle, and also 
bred and dealt in standard bred horses. 
Renting his farm in 1883, he moved to Rock 
Falls and has since lived a retired life. 

Mrs. Scott departed this life October 21, 



378 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



1899, and her remains were interred in 
Riverside cemetery. Sterling, where a 
monument now marks her last resting place. 
The children born to our subject and his 
wife were as follows: Walter is a business 
man of Montmorency; Edwin was a physi- 
cian of Oakland, Coles county, Illinois, 
where he died in July, 1892; Eleanora died 
in infancy; Celestia is the wife of William 
E. Richardson, who is now at the soldiers' 
home in Danville, Illinois, while his wife 
and daughter live in Rock Falls; Hiram B. 
is principal of the Lewis Academy in Wich- 
ita, Kansas, and a minister of the Christian 
Church of Valley Center, that state; Eliza 
J. is the wife of Bernard Miller, of Prairie- 
ville, Lee county, Illinois; Franklin A. died 
in infancy; Alice A. is the wife of Charles 
Hollis, of Rock Falls; Jesse F. is a physician 
of Oakland, Illinois; Orange M. is a farmer 
of Palo Alto county, Iowa; Bertha L. is the 
wife of Joseph Jenkins, of Panora, Guthrie 
county, Iowa; and Hattie A. lives with her 
father in Rock Falls. 

Mr. Scott cast his first presidential vote 
for Martin Van Buren, and supported the 
Democratic party until i860, since which 
time he has been an ardent Republican. 
He has made a guess on each election since 
1840 and his predictions have always proved 
correct. He now predicts that President 
McKinley will be re-elected in 1900. He 
filled the office of school director for some 
years and has also been commissioner of 
highways, but has never cared for political 
preferment. In early life he was a Presby- 
terian in religious faith, but he and his 
daughter now hold membership in the 
Methodist Episcopal church. Since May, 
1839, he has made his home in this county, 
and has therefore witnessed almost its en- 
tire development. In those early days he 



killed a large number of deer and wolves, 
besides great quantities of wild game of all 
kinds, and his wife also killed numerous 
prairie chickens and animals that preyed 
upon her domestic fowls. He has seen the 
wild and swampy land drained and trans- 
formed into highly cultivated and product- 
ive farms and ever bore his part in the 
work of improvement. As an honored pio- 
neer and representative citizen of his adopt- 
ed county he is certainly worthy of prom- 
inent mention in her history and his sketch 
will be read with unusual interest by his 
many friends. 



CHARLES J. LONGSDON. Whiteside 
county has been the home and scene 
of labor of many men who have not only 
led lives that should serve as an example to 
those who come after them but have also 
been of important service to the community 
through various avenues of usefulness. 
Among them must be named Charles J. 
Longsdon, who passed away at his home in 
Sterling, March 17, 1896, after a life rich 
in those rare possessions which only a high 
character can give. 

He was born in Charleston, South Caro- 
lina, January 4, 1830, and was the son of 
an English squire, William Longsdon, of 
Great Longstone, England, who was a 
magistrate of the Queen's bench. The es- 
tate of the famil}' was known as Longstone, 
while the Norman name for it was Longes- 
dune. Our subject could trace his ancestry 
back through an unbroken line for twenty- 
eight generations to the eleventh century. 
The first of the family in England was Serlo 
de Longsdon, a Norman, who distinguished 
himself in the battle of Hastings as aide de 
camp of William the Conqueror and in re- 




CHARLES L. LONGSDON. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



381 



ward for his services a grant was made, en- 
titling him and his successors " To hawke, 
hunte, fishe and fowle, cutte downe tymber 
and digge uppe stone quarries between Mat- 
lock and Mam-Tor, the consideration was 
that the family was always to keep a bull, a 
boar and a stallion for public use and furnish 
two gentleman in armour. In proof of this 
ancient armour, swords, halberds deck the 
walls of the old manor house at Little 
Longstone. The massive walls of that 
building have enclosed the joys and sorrows 
of this honorable and highly esteemed fam- 
ily for over eight hundred years. In one of 
the upper rooms, known as the eaglecham- 
ber, is a stone five feet square which forms 
part of the chimney over the mantel piece, 
on which is the motto "Rectae et Suariter, " 
and a double headed eagle, the emblem used 
on the Longsdon arms and crest. The title 
of gentleman has ever been associated with 
the name of Longsdon. 

When about thirty years of age, 'Squire 
Longsdon came to Anerica and located in 
Charleston, South Carolina, as agent for a 
number of English capitalists to invest his 
and their money in American railroads. He 
did not remain here permanently, but went 
back and forward between here and Eng- 
land. He purchased stock in the Illinois 
Central, the Pittsburg & Fort Wayne, the 
Pennsylvania Central and the Grand Trunk 
Railroads, and during the construction of 
the last named road was general paymaster, 
having full charge of the funds of all the 
stockholders. He was a most capable 
financier and e.xcellent business man. He 
married Miss Maria Lord, a southern lady, 
by whom he had two children, Emma J., 
and Charles J., our subject. As the mother 
died when her son was only two years old, 
the father took the children to England, 



where they were educated. He became a 
very wealthy man. He died March 4, 1876, 
and his daughter died February 13, 1874. 
She was an artist of superior ability, one of 
the best in England, and was known all 
over the continent. Her brother's widow, 
Mrs. Longsdon, of Sterling, has in her pos- 
session a number of works of art in oil, 
water colors and India ink done by Miss 
Emma, and among others there are several 
dozen wine doilies decorated with land- 
scapes, pictures from Punch with humorous 
dialogues attached. 

Charles J. Longsdon, of this review, was 
educated at \\'alton Academy, Liverpool, 
England, from which he was graduated at 
the age of fourteen. It was his wish to 
enter the ministry, but his father desired 
him to follow in his footsteps and keep the 
title in the family which was unbroken for 
eight hundred years. In 1848 he came to 
the United States and located in Genesee 
township, Whiteside county, Illinois, where 
he took up land two years later. At the 
time of his death he owned two hundred 
and seventy acres in that township and 
large tracts in Polk and Dunn counties, 
Wisconsin, and also in Minnesota. He was 
also a stockholder of the Illinois Central, 
the Pittsburg & Fort Wayne, the Pennsyl- 
sylvania Central and other railroads. He 
continued to superintend the operation of 
his fartn in Genesee township until his 
death, but in 1892 he removed to Sterling, 
though he had made his home in Coleta for 
nine years previous. 

On the loth of February, 1874, Mr. 
Longsdon was united in marriage with Miss 
Gertrude S. Stiles, of Sterling, a native of 
Lewis county. New York. Her parents, 
Nathan C. and Ann E. (Wright) Stiles, also 
natives of New York, and the latter a daugh- 



382 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ter of Rufus Wright, of Massachusetts. Her 
paternal grandfather was Sullivan Stiles, 
the son of an English gentleman, who came 
to the new world with two brothers. One 
located in Massachusetis, one in Toronto, 
Canada, and the third in South Carolina. 
Mrs. Longsdon belongs to the Massachusetts 
branch. Her father was a farmer both in 
New York and the latter in Illinois. On 
coming to this state he first located in 
Milledgeville, Carroll county, later spent a 
year or two in Lanark, and then came to 
Genesee township, Whiteside county, where 
he lived for a number of years. Subseqently 
he spent five years in Coleta, and then came 
to Sterling. He and his wife lived with 
Mrs. Longsdon for nine years after her 
marriage, and they, too, removed to Coleta. 
In December, 1896, they came to Sterling, 
where they now make their home at the 
age of seventy-six and seventy-one years 
respectively. They are widely and favor- 
ably known and have many warm friends in 
this county. Of their two children, Mrs. 
Longsdon is the older. John S. Stiles, the 
younger, is a farmer and stock raiser of 
Kansas. He first married Sarrah McGee, 
by whom he had two daughters, Nellie and 
Gertrude, and by a second marriage he also 
has two children. 

Four children were born to Mr. and 
Mrs. Longsdon, of whom the oldest, a 
daughter, died in infancy. Emma, born 
July 7, 1876, was a graduate of the Sterling 
schools, and died October 5, 1899, being 
laid to rest in the Riverside cemetery. She 
was a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
church and the Daughters of the Globe, and 
her death was greatly mourned by her many 
friends as well as relatives. Anna L. and 
Gertrude Elizabeth are now attending the 
Sterling high school. 



For some time previous to his death, 
Mr. Longsdon was in poor health, and on 
the 1 2th of March, 1896, he departed this 
life. His funeral, which took place at the 
family residence in Sterling, was connected 
by Rev. H. T. Clendenning, Rev. Matlack, 
Rev. Grover Clark and Rev. Davis, and his 
remains were interred in Riverside cemetery. 
Politically he was a Republican, and re- 
ligiously was a member of the church of 
England. Though he never united with any 
church in this country, he attended the 
Methodist Episcopal church, gave liberally 
toward its support and tookavery active part 
in its work. Those who knew him best 
were numbered among his warmest friends. 
As a citizen he was honorable, prompt and 
true to every engagement; as a man he held 
the honor and esteem of all classes of peo- 
ple; as a husband and father he was a model 
worthy of all imitation; unassuming in his 
manner, sincere in his friendships, steadfast 
and unswerving in his loyalty to the right. 
His memory will be a sacred inheritance 
to his children; it will be cherished by a 
multitude of friends. 



GEORGE R. PROCTOR, M, D. Prom- 
inent among the medical profession of 
Whiteside county stands George R. Proc- 
tor, of Coleta. He possesses unusual apti- 
tude for his chosen calling, and has the 
confidence of the entire community. 
Though yet in his early prime, he has given 
abundant evidence of skill and well applied 
principles of the healing art, which event- 
ually will bring to him renown and financial 
prosperity. 

The Doctor's father, David G. Proctor, 
a native of Indiana, came to Illinois at an 
early day, and is now making his home in 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



383 



Genesee township, Whiteside county. He 
married Sarah Ann Hurless and to them 
seven children were born, namely: Cephus 
C, George R., Ira R., Minnie J., Richard 
G. , Elizabeth and one who died in infancy. 
In the sketch of D. G. Proctor, which ap- 
pears elsewhere in this work, a full history 
of our subject's ancestors may be found. 

The birth of Ur. George R. Proctor oc- 
curred on his father's farm in Genesee 
township, May 25, 1869. In his boyhood 
he attended the district schools, and, as he 
was a dilligent student, made rapid progress, 
and soon began preparing himself for a 
teacher. Subsequently, he pursued a course 
in the Shenandoah (lowaj normal school, 
and then, for a period of four years was 
employed as a teacher in the common 
schools of Carroll and Whiteside counties, 
Illinois. Having determined to become a 
physician, he went to Iowa City, Iowa, 
where he attended the Iowa State Univer- 
sity for two years. Later, he went to Rush 
Medical College, in Chicago, and there re- 
ceived the degree of Doctor of Medicine in 
1896. Immediately after his graduation, 
he returned to Coleta, where he established 
himself in practice, in partnership with 
Doctor McBride. The latter a year later 
removed to Sterling, since which time Poc- 
tor Proctor has had charge of the entire 
practice, and has made rapid progress in 
his loved work. Neglecting no means of 
advancement within his power, he has taken 
two post-graduate courses in Chicago, and 
has been a regular attendant at the meet- 
ings of the Rock River Valley Medical 
Association. In 1899, when that well- 
known society assembled at Dixon, Illinois, 
Dr. Proctor was honored by being elected 
to the responsible office of vice-president of 
the association. He is also a member of 



the American Medical Association and the 
Mississippi Valley Medical Association. He 
is the medical examiner for the local lodges 
of the Knights of the Globe, and the Mystic 
Workers, with both of which he is identified 
as a member, and, besides, he is the med- 
ical adviser of the Modern Woodmen of 
America, the Home Forum and the New 
York Life Insurance Company. In his 
political faith he is a Democrat. 

The marriage of Doctor Proctor and 
Jennie D. Tavenner was solemnized Sep- 
tember 14, 1897. The young couple have 
a little son, David T., born July 17, 1898. 
Mrs. Proctor, whose birth occurred Octo- 
ber 10, 1 87 1, is one of the four children of 
Joseph and Fannie Tavenner. Her only 
sister, Mayme, is the wife of David Brown, 
of Gladbrook, Iowa. John, elder brother 
of Mrs. Proctor, married Lena Munde, and 
has one child. Their home is in Hazel- 
hurst, Illinois. The younger brother, Al- 
bert, resides with his parents. Doctor 
Proctor and his wife are members of the 
United Brethren church, and receive a cor- 
dial welcome in the foremost social circles 
of Coleta. 



WILLIAM W. BLEAN is one of the 
leading and influential agriculturists 
of Newton township, \\'hiteside county, 
Illinois, where he owns and operates one 
hundred and fifty acres of land on sections 
1 1 and 13, and also has seven acres in Fen- 
ton township. He was born in Newton 
township, February 5, 1856, a son of James 
and Hettie (Weakley) Blean, both natives 
of Pennsylvania, where their marriage was 
celebrated. Our subject's grandparents 
were John and Elizabeth Blean and Joseph 
and Martha Weakley. After his marriage 



584 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



James Blean came to Illinois and took up 
his residence in Newton township, Whiteside 
county, where in partnership with his father 
he purchased a farm of two liundred and 
fifteen acres. He at once turned his atten- 
tion to the improvement and cultivation of 
the land, and for some years successfully 
engaged in general farming and stock rais- 
ing. In 1861 he laid aside all personal in- 
terests and offered his services to the gov- 
ernment as a soldier of Company B, Seven- 
ty-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He 
entered the army as second lieutenant, and 
was killed in the battle of Perryville, which 
was his first engagement. His widow is 
still living and now makes her home with 
her son, James Blean, on the old homestead 
in Newton township. To them were born 
si.x children, of whom the two oldest died in 
infancy unnamed. William W., our sub- 
ject, is the next in order of birth; Elizabeth 
K. is the wife of John Hawk, a farmer of 
Newton township; John C. and James A., 
also farmers of that township. 

William W. Blean, the subject of this 
sketch, made his home with his mother un- 
til a year after his marriage, when he lo- 
cated upon his present farm, which he has 
since converted into one of the most highly 
cultivated and well improved tracts in the 
neighborhood. He carries on general farm- 
ing and stock raising with marked success; 
feeds a large number of cattle and hogs 
each year; and also buys and sells stock for 
the local markets. 

On the 13th of April, 1882, Mr. Blean 
was united in marriage with Miss Mary E. 
Efner, a daughter of Edward and Amanda 
(Stagg) Efner, and the children born to this 
union are as follows: Hettie E., Mary E., 
Leonard, Albert, Cora, Eva and Harold. 
The two oldest daughters are now attending 



school in Portland. The parents are faith- 
ful members of the Presbyterian church of 
Newton, and are held in high regard by all 
who know them. Fraternally Mr. Blean is 
a member of Erie camp. No. 14, M. W. A. 
By his ballot he supports the men and meas- 
ures of the Republican party, and he has 
been honored with local offices, having most 
creditably served as school director, collect- 
or and assessor for several years. 



M 



ICHAEL CARNEY, who is industrious- 
ly engaged in the prosecution of a 
calling upon which the support and wealth 
of a nation largely depends, and in which he 
is meeting with deserved success, has been 
a resident of Portland township, Whiteside 
county, for thirty-three years, during which 
time he has witnessed important changes 
for the better. He was born in Massena, 
St. Lawrence county. New York, April 5, 
1848, a son of James Carney. 

James Carney, a native of Ireland, came 
to this country when a young man, and lo- 
cated in St. Lawrence county, where he 
was engaged in the independent occupation, 
of a farmer until his death, in 1857. He 
married Miss Sally England, a life-long res- 
ident of New York state, and a daughter of 
Robert England, who emigrated from old 
England to America in early life, becoming 
a pioneer of St. Lawrence county. She 
survived him many years, passing away in 
1888, leaving eight children, as follows: 
John, who settled in Whiteside county as a 
farmer in 1864; Mrs. Margaret Andrews, of 
St. Lawrence county. New York; William, 
of the same county; Michael, the particular 
subject of this brief biography; Elizabeth, 
wife of Joseph Cockings, of Erie, Illinois; 
Jane, wife of Joseph Crump, of St. Lawrence 



IriE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



385 



county, New York; Mary, who lives with her 
sister, Mrs. Andrews; and Robert, who owns 
and operates the old home farm in St. Law- 
rence county. 

Michael Carney received excellent edu- 
cational advantages in the graded schools of 
Massena, where he lived until the spring of 
1866, when he came west to join his elder 
brother, John, in Portland township. The 
first season of his sojourn here he worked 
as a farm hand by the month, and was after- 
wards employed by the year. Commencing 
then to work for himself, he rented land and 
for several years carried it on with e.\xellent 
pecuniary results. In 1877 he invested his 
money in a tract of land containing one hun- 
dred and twenty acres, and there continued 
general farming and stock raising and feed- 
ing, meeting with such good success that he 
was enabled to buy more land, and build a 
convenient residence and substantial barn 
and outbuildings. Disposing of that prop- 
erty at an advantage, he bought a farm of 
one hundred and twenty-two acres in the 
same neighborhood, where he continued his 
operations with an equal amount of success. 
In 1897 he sold that farm, and has since had 
charge of the estate on which he now resides. 
It contains eight hundred acres of land, ly- 
ing on the Rock River Bottonis, very favor- 
ably situated, and well adapted to his chosen 
occupation of general agricultural and stock 
raising. 

Mr. Carney was married, in June, 1870, 
to Esther M. Chase, who was born and bred 
in Allegany county. New York, but came to 
Whiteside county with her father, David 
D. Chase, about 1850. On November 27, 
1885, Mrs. Carney passed to the life be- 
yond, and her body was laid to rest in 
Sharon cemetery. Two children were born 
of their union, as follows: Zene D., who is 



married, is engaged in business in Erie, this 
county, and DencyM., who married August 
Sourbeck, of Spring Hill, has one child, 
Edith Esther. Politically Mr. Carney has 
invariably voted the Republican ticket since 
casting his first presidential vote, in 1872, 
for General U. S. (}rant. He has served 
sixteen consecutive years as constable, and 
for several terms was one of the school 
board. Fraternally he was a charter mem- 
ber of Erie lodge, I. O. O. F. , but for the 
past twelve years he has belonged to the 
Prophetstown lodge of Odd Fellows, and he 
is likewise a member of the Home Forum, 
Spring Hill lodge. 



JAMES COATS. Back to stanch old 
Scotch ancestry does Mr. Coats trace 
his lineage, and that in his character abide 
those sterling qualities which have ever 
marked the true type of the Scotch nation, 
is manifest when we come to consider the 
more salient points in his life history, which 
has been one marked by consecutive indus- 
try, invincible spirit, sturdy loyalty and un- 
wavering honor, — all of which have result- 
ed most naturally in securing him a position 
in the respect and esteem of his fellow men. 
He is now successfully operating, in con- 
nection with his brother, a tine farm of two 
hundred and ninety-five acres, all of which 
has been acquired through their well directed 
efforts. 

Mr. Coats was born about seven miles 
from the city of Glasgow, in Lenarkshire, 
Scotland, October 15, 1834, and is a son of 
James and Ellen (Nesbit) Coats, who were 
also natives of the same land. His paternal 
grandparents were Thomas and Mary Belle 
Coats, and to them were born seven chil- 
dren: James, Archibald, John, Robert, 



386 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Annie, Lizzie and Margaret. On the ma- 
ternal side the great-grandparents of our 
subject were Alexander and Ellen Morton, 
who lived and died in Scotland. The ma- 
ternal grandparents were Thomas and Mary 
(Morton) Nesbit, who had a family of six 
children, as follows: William, Alexander, 
Thomas, Ellen, Christina and Jeannette. 
One of the maternal uncles of Mr. Coats 
served in the marine service under Nelson 
and was on the boat when the famous Eng- 
lish admiral was shot. 

James Coats, Sr. , the father of our sub- 
ject, accompanied by his wife, two sons and 
a daughter, removed to New Zealand in 
i860, and there the parents died, while the 
children continued their residence on that 
island. Mr. and Mrs. Coats had a family 
of nine children: Mary, Thomas, James, 
Mary and William, twins, John, and twins 
who died in infancy. 

The subject of this review, James Coats, 
of Jordan township, received but limited 
educational privileges, his opportunities be- 
ing limited to study in the parish school 
prior to his tenth year. While in his native 
land he worked on the railroad as a section 
hand for a year and a half, and was also 
employed on public works for a similar 
period. In 1857 he came to America, join- 
ing his brother Thomas, who had previous- 
ly located near Toronto, Canada. The 
same year they made their way to Illinois, 
and after working by the month for a year 
and a half James and his brother rented 
land for seven years. They then purchased 
the farm upon which they now reside and 
began farming on their own account. After 
a short period Thomas returned to Scotland, 
where he married Miss Isabelle Atchison, 
and with his bride he again came to the 
New World. Four daughters and two sons 



were born of their union. The mother died 
February 28, 1894, after which Thomas 
went to live with his children. 

Up to that time the brothers had been 
associated in their farming operations, and 
upon his sister-in-law's death James Coats 
rented his brother's interest in the farm, 
and has since operated the property alone. 
He has always carried on general farming, 
and at one time engaged in raising Durham 
short-horn cattle, but is not now connected 
with that enterprise. He has been verj' 
successful in his farming operations, and still 
continues the supervision of his farm, al- 
though he has left the more arduous field 
work to his sons. 

Mr. Coats was married October 30, 
1868, to Ellen Miller, daughter of Joseph 
and Ellen Marshall Miller, who were also 
natives of Scotland, and came to the United 
States in 1852, the family locating in White- 
side county, Illinois. There were four chil- 
dren: Ellen, Agnes, Hugh and Mary. With 
the exception of Mrs. Coats all were born 
in this state, and she was educated in Jor- 
dan township. Her father died in 1874, her 
mother in 1895, and they were buried in the 
family graveyard on the farm. Unto Mr. 
and Mrs. Coats have been born ten children: 
James A., MaryE., Agnes A., Joseph R., 
Lillie B., W'illiam H., Margaret, John, and 
May and John. The first child who was 
given the name of John died May 6, 1885. 
Agnes A. is now the wife of Thomas Bracken, 
and lives in Jordan township. James A. 
married Grace Pratt, a native of Iowa, and 
the other children are with their parents on 
the home farm. 

For six years Mr. Coats has filled the 
office of school director, and is deeply in- 
terested in the cause of education and what- 
ever tends to benefit the community. In 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



•387 



politics he is a Democrat, voting with the 
party at national and state elections, hut at 
local elections, where no issue is inxolved, 
casting his support for the man whom he 
thinks best qualified for office, regardless of 
party affiliations. He was at one time a 
member of the Grange, and his wife is a 
member of the Baptist church. His life 
has been an active and useful one, and his 
business has been so well conducted that he 
has secured a handsome competence, num- 
bering him among the substantial farmers, 
as well as respected citizens of Whiteside 
county. 



DJ. PARKER, deceased, was for sev- 
eral years one of the leading and prom- 
inent citizens of Garden Plains township, 
where he was successfully engaged in 
agricultural pursuits. He was born in Ver- 
mont, April 14, 1835, a son of Abel and 
Amanda Parker, farming people of that 
state. There our subject grew to manhood 
and learned the carpenter's trade. On 
coming west in 1852, he located in Chica- 
go, where he worked at his trade for a rail- 
road company for two years, and in March, 
1854, became a resident of Whiteside coun- 
ty. He was employed as a carpenter in 
Garden Plains for a time, and later engaged 
in general merchandising and also served as 
postmaster of that place from i857 to 1859, 
inclusive. In the spring of i860 he went to 
Pike's Peak, in company with a large num- 
ber of men in search of gold, and remained 
there until the following September. 

After his return from Pike's Peak to this 
county, Mr. Parker was married, Decetnber 
20, i860, to Miss Mary Eleanor Parker, 
who was l)orn in Garden Plains, .April 6, 
1 84 1, a daughter of Jacob and Rosa Parker. 



Her father was also a native of the Green 
Mountain state and a pioneer of this coun- 
ty, having taken up his residence in Garden 
Plains township, at what is known as Park- 
ers Grove, in August, 1835. Mrs. Parker 
was the second white child born in Garden 
Plains township, and the marriage of her 
parents was the second one in the township. 
To our subject and his wife were born seven 
children, namely: Wilber D., born July 22, 
I 86 1, is married and with his wife and two 
children resides in Albany, Illinois; Harry 
J., born May 26, 1864, is married and with 
his wife and two children resides in Daven- 
port, Iowa; Fred L., born May 6, 1867, is 
married and with his wife and child lives in 
Sterling; Minnie R.. born August 20, 1869, 
died at the age of one year; Jessie E. , born 
January 16, 1871, is the wife of R. H. Pa- 
gan, station agent at Garden Plains Corners, 
and they have two children; John A., born 
February 11, 1873, and Nellie Edith, born 
October 23, 1880, are both at home with 
their mother. 

For one year after his marriage, Mr. 
Parker operated his father-in-law's farm 
and one year rented, then purchased eighty 
acres of land on section 28, Garden Plains 
township, which at that time was all raw 
prairie. He located thereon and at once 
turned his attention to the improvement 
and cultivation of his place, which he soon 
converted into a good farm. The first home 
of the family was a little shanty, which was 
later replaced by a pleasant residence, and 
surrounded by good, substantial outbuildings. 
To his original purchase Mr. Parker added 
another eighty-acre tract in 1864, and 
throughout life successfully engaged in gen- 
eral farming and slock raising. By his bal- 
lot he supported the men and measures of 
tiic Republican part}', and always took an 



388 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



active and commendable interest in public 
affairs. His fellow citizens, recognizing his 
worth and ability, often called him to office, 
and he most capably and satisfactorily 
served as supervisor for about eleven years, 
school treasurer for nine years; school 
trustee a number of years, and road com- 
missioner fifteen years. He died July 9, 
1897, honored and respected by all who 
knew him. Since thedeath of her husband, 
Mrs. Parker has most successfully conducted 
her farm and business affairs, and has dis- 
played good business ability in the manage- 
ment of the sale. She is a most estimable 
lady, and like her husband has many 
friends. 



M' 



ARTIN COLEMAN is a wide-awake 
and enterprising business man of Deer 
Grove, where he is engaged in general mer- 
chandising, in which line of trade he has 
built up a large and e.xtensive business by 
his own energy and enterprise, and gained 
a most enviable reputation for his financial 
sagacity and honorable, straightforward 
dealing. 

Mr. Coleman is a native of Ireland, and 
when a young man came to America, land- 
ing in New York May 15, 1872. For one 
year he worked on a farm in Oneida coun- 
ty, New York, and on the 15th of October, 
1873, went to Pittsburg, where he worked 
in a factory until March 6, 1876. Subse- 
quently he worked by the month on a farm 
in Pennsylvania until coming to Whiteside 
county, where he arrived on Sunday, No- 
vember 22, 1877. Here he was also em- 
ployed as a farm hand for several years, but 
in 1 884 came to Deer Grove and bought the 
business of C. F. Garrett, a dealer in gen- 
eral merchandise and agricultural imple- 



ments. He has enlarged his stock to meet 
the growing demands of his trade, and now 
carries a good assortment of dry goods, 
groceries, implements, etc., and has estab- 
lished an enviable reputation for good 
goods and fair dealing. 

In Sterling, in 1878, Mr. Coleman was 
united in marriage with Miss Maggie Ford, 
who was born in Canada, but was reared 
and educated in Sterling. Her father, 
Peter Ford, now of Deer Grove, was born 
in Ireland, June 22, 1802, and is now 
ninety-eight years of age, but still retains 
all his faculties in good condition. He has 
made his home in this county for almost 
half a century and is widely and favorably 
known. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. 
Coleman are the following children: Mar- 
tin J., who assists his father in the store; 
Mary, who is living with an aunt in Tope- 
ka, Kansas; Katie, who also aids in the 
store; Bessie; Delia; Patrick P. and Agnes. 
The family are communicants of the Tam- 
pico Catholic church, and Mr. Coleman is a 
member of the Modern Woodmen of Am- 
erica. 

Politically he votes the Democratic 
ticket at national elections, and cast his 
first presidential ballot for Samuel J. Tilden, 
but at local elections votes independent of 
party, endeavoring to support the best men 
for the offices. He has been township 
school trustee and a member of the school 
board for years, and by his influence and 
support he has done much toward securing 
good schools in his section of the county. 
He has most creditably served as justice of 
the peace for si.xteen years, township clerk 
fourteen years, and been postmaster of 
Deer Drove continuously since 1884, with 
the exception of si.x months. He is an in- 
telligent, progressive citizen of liberal views, 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



389 



and is heartily in sympathy with every 
movement that will in any way add to the 
prosperity of his community. His life con- 
tains many valuable lessons of incentive, 
showing the possibilities that are opened to 
young men who wish to improve every 
opportunity for advancement. 



LEHMAN L. EMMONS, who is now 
living a retired life in Rock Falls, Illi- 
nois, has made his home in this county for 
over half a centurj", and was for many years 
actively identified with its agricultural in- 
terests. He was born in Litchfield, Litch- 
field county, Connecticut, June 17, iS2t, 
and is a representative of one of the old 
and honored families of that state. Three 
brothers, natives of England, came to the 
new world in colonial days, and one settled 
in Virginia, the second in New Jersey, and 
the third in Connecticut. From the last 
our subject is descent. His paternal grand- 
father, Herman Emmons, was one of the 
pioneers of Litchfield county, and there the 
father, Lehman Emmons, was born and 
reared. The latter married Ursula Beech, 
a daughter of Laban Beech, and in 1828 
they moved to Canaan, Wayne county, 
Pennsylvania, where as a mechanic Mr. 
Emmons worked at the cooper's trade for 
many years. He died in that county. 

The subject of this sketch grew to 
manhood in Pennsylvania, and there learned 
the wagonmaker's and wheelwright's trades, 
at which he worked for about five years be- 
fore coming west. At Pittston, in the 
Wyoming valley, Pennsylvania, he was 
married, to Miss Jane Hale, a native of 
that place and a daughter of Joel Hale, a 
representative of one of the old families of 

Pittston. By this union seven children 
22 



were born, of whom five are still living, 
namely: W. B., a fruit grower of Rock 
Falls; Sarah, wife of M. H. Ward, of Sterl- 
ing; Elizabeth C, at home; Lehman L., 
editor of the Morrison Record; and Lydia 
M., wife of J. C. Buell, of Montmorency 
township. Those deceased were Frankie, 
who died when a young lady, and Sarah 
Ann, who died in infancy. 

Mr. Emmons carried on business as a 
wagonmaker in Pittston, Pennsylvania, for 
four years after his marriage, and then, in 
1846, came to Whiteside county, Illinois, 
locating in Sterling, which was then a strag- 
gling village of about one hundred and fifty 
inhabitants. There he opened a shop, and 
in connection with his brother, I. B. Em- 
mons, engaged in wagon making, black- 
smithing and general repairwork until 1850. 
He then purchased two hundred acres of 
raw land on the south side of the river in 
Coloma township, and commenced immedi- 
ately to improve and cultivate his land. 
He erected upon his place a good set of 
farm buildings, set out fruit and ornamental 
trees, and transformed the wild land into 
well-tilled fields. He finally sold this farm 
for eighty-five dollars per acre, and in the 
fall of 1870 bought the Joel W'ood farm of 
one hundred and si.xty acres in Montmo- 
rency township, which he operated for thir- 
teen years. At the end of that period he 
purchased a lot in Rock Falls and erected 
thereon a good residence, where he has 
since lived retired. 

Mr. Emmons joined the Odd Fellows 
Society at Como, and later was a member 
of the lodge at Sterling, but for the last 
twenty-five years has not attended the lodge. 
Originally he was an old-line Whig in poli- 
tics and cast his first presidential ballot for 
William Henry Harrison, in 1840, but since 



390 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



the organization of the RepubHcan party in 
1856, he has been one of its stanch sup- 
porters and has served as a delegate to a 
number of conventions. He has taken a 
very active and prominent part in local 
politics, and his fellow citizens, recognizing 
his worth and ability, have often called him 
to office. In 1855 he was appointed post- 
master of Coloma and served for two years 
during President Pierce's administration; was 
deputy enrolling officer during the Civil war; 
was supervisor of Coloma township twelve 
years; township trustee some years; and 
township treasurer. After a long and use- 
ful life, he is now calmly resting from his 
labors, and is spending the evening of life 
pleasantly at his home in Rock Falls, sur- 
rounded by the love, respect and esteem of 
a large circle of friends and acquaintances. 



HON. DAVID McCartney, deceased, 
was for many years one of the most 
prominent citizens of Whiteside county, and 
was not only well known in the county but 
throughout the entire state. He was born 
of Scotch-Irish parentage in Dansville, New 
York, in 1805, and there grew to manhood. 
In his native state he was united in marriage 
with Miss Elizabeth A. Agge, a native of 
Massachusetts, born in Salem, Massachusetts, 
in 1 82 1. They became the parents of five 
children, three of whom died in infancy. 
Those living are Fannie, born in Fulton, 
Whiteside county, Illinois, May 28, 1856, 
and who is now the wife of Charles M. 
Worthington, of Sterling, a sketch of whom 
appears elsewhere in this volume; and 
Annie, who is yet living in Sterhng. 

In 1854 Mr. McCartney came with his 
family to Whiteside county, and located in 
Fulton. He there read law, and in 1856 



was admitted to the bar, and soon took 
rank among the ablest practitioners in west- 
ern Illinois. For twelve years he served as 
prosecuting attorney for the circuit compris- 
ing the counties of Whiteside, Lee, Carroll 
and Ogle counties. When the law was 
changed and the office of prosecuting at- 
torney for the circuit was abolished, and 
that of county attorney created, he was 
elected county attorney for Whiteside 
county and served for eight years. As a 
prosecutor he was one of the best known in 
the state, and was a terror to the evil 
doers. 

On the organization of the Republican 
party Mr. McCartney became one of its 
most stanch advocates, and continued iden- 
tified with it until his death in 1886. 
As a platform speaker he had few peers, 
and his services were in demand by the 
state central committee of his party in every 
state campaign. His ready wit, quick rep- 
artee, and his ability to relate a story ef- 
fectively made him a favorite on the stump, 
and a drawing card. His death was greatly 
lamented throughout the county and state, 
as his friends were many. His good wife 
survived him some years, dying in 1898. 

Mrs. Fannie Worthington inherited the 
ability of her father, and also his taste for 
political life. She accompanied him in 
many of his campaign tours through the 
state, and made a study of the political 
questions of the day. On the death of her 
father she was invited by the Republican 
state central committee to enter its service, 
and in 1888 began her career as a campaign 
speaker, touring the state and occupying 
the platform and speaking with such men 
as Senator Cullom, Governor Fifer, and 
other men of note. For three weeks she 
was under the management of the Repub- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



39t 



lican national committee, and was the only 
woman who spoke on both the tariff and 
money issues, she having made a thorough 
study of each. She is one of the best 
posted persons on tariff and money in the 
country, and the state and national com- 
mittees are always glad to avail themselves 
of her services. She has made forty speeches 
in sixty days, appearing in various parts of 
the state. For four years she served as 
postmistress of the state senate, and for 
two years was bill clerk in the senate. She 
has also served as private secretary to state 
and United States senators. Mrs. Worth- 
ington was a member from Whiteside county 
of the Illinois State Republican convention 
of 1898. 

Mrs. Worthington is a member of the 
Congregational church, and has frequently 
filled the pulpit, speaking on current topics 
and on the temperance question. When 
not engaged in political work she lives a 
very quiet life in her home in the eastern 
part of Sterling, which commands a fine 
view of the Rock river. 



THOMAS ROBINSON, Sr. It is 
astonishing to witness the success of 
3'oung men who have emigrated to America 
without capital and from a position of 
comparative obscurity have worked 
their way upward to a position of prom- 
inence. The readiness with which they 
adapt themselves to circumstances and take 
advantage of opportunities afforded brings 
to them success and wins them a place 
among the leading and successful men of the 
community in which they reside. In Mr. 
Robinson, of Rock Falls, we find a worthy- 
representative of this class; he came to this 
country empty handed, and through his own 



well directed and energetic efforts has be- 
come one of the most substantial and pros- 
perous citizens of his adopted city. 

Mr. Robinson was born in Wilkeshire, 
England, January 6, iSof, and there grew 
to manhood. In early life he followed the 
sea for five years, sailing on one vessel three 
and a half years and visiting all of the im- 
portant seaports of the world. The re- 
mainder of the time was spent on a British 
man of war. On giving up his seafaring 
life, he worked at anything which he could 
find to do until coming to the United States 
with a cousin, in 1846. He first located in 
Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, where he 
worked in the mines, and as he received 
good wages, he was soon able to purchase a 
lot in Pittston and erect thereon a good resi- 
dence. 

On New Year's eve, of 1848, Mr. Robin- 
son was united in marriage with Miss Sarah 
Hale, a native of Pennsylvania. Her sister 
married L L. Emmons, whose sketch ap- 
pears elsewhere in this volume. In 1854, 
Mr. Robinson came to Whiteside county, 
Illinois, joining his brother-in-law, Mr. 
Emmons, and in Coloma township he pur- 
chased forty acres of land which was entirely 
unimproved. He bought a little school 
house, which he moved to his farm and con- 
verted into a dwelling, and immediately 
turned his attention to the cultivation and 
improvement of the place. Subsequently 
he purchased a forty-acre tract adjoining 
and also forty acres in Montmorency town- 
ship, and as the years passed his converted 
his farm into one of the most desirable 
places of its size in the locality. He also 
gave considerable attention to the raising of 
stock horses, cattle and hogs and at one 
time sold twelve hundred and thirty-eight 
dollars worth of hogs. He also invested in 



392 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Kansas land, and still owns three quarter- 
sections of good land in Grove and Dodge 
counties, besides his farm in this county and 
one business block and six residences in 
Rock Falls. He left the farm in 1886, and 
has since lived retired in Rock Falls. 

Mrs. Robinson died February 13, 1895, 
and her remains were interred in Rock Falls 
cemetery, where a neat monument now 
marks her last resting place. To our sub- 
ject and his wife were born eight children, 
namely: Charles, a farmer ol Boone coun- 
ty, Nebraska; Lord John, a resident of Crip- 
ple Creek, Colorado; William, a farmer of 
Nebraska; Thomas, Jr., and James, both 
residents of Rock Falls; Rose, wife of Mar- 
shall Oakley, of Nebraska; Carrie, wife of 
Paul Jones, of California; and Anna, at 
home with her father. 

Politically Mr. Robinson is a supporter 
of the men and measures of the Democracy, 
but has never taken an active part in polit- 
ical affairs, aside from voting. His daugh- 
ter. Miss Anna, is a member of the Method- 
ist Episcopal church, but he was reared in 
the Episcopal faith, or the Church of Eng- 
land. Although ninety-eight years of age, 
he is still quite active and possesses all his 
faculties to a remarkable degree. He is 
known far and wide as a man of sterling 
character and worth, and has the respect 
and esteem of all with whom he comes in 
contact. He is a man of recognized ability, 
and the success that he has achieved in life 
is due to his own perseverance, industry and 
sound judgment. 



ANDREW J. OSBORNE, the well- 
known author and lecturer on mone- 
tary topics, residing in the city of Erie, has 
been a resident of Whiteside county, with 



the exception of a few years spent in Iowa, 
for nearly half a century. He was born 
near Ashville, Massachusetts, December 17, 
1828, and is the son of James and Rebecca 
(Glass) Osborne, both of whom are natives 
of Great Britain, where they were married, 
and from whence they come to the United 
States shortly after, locating near Ashville, 
Massachusetts. They were the parents of 
two sons — James, born in 1826, and Andrew 
J., the subject of this sketch, December 17, 
1828. 

In his eastern home the first twelve 
years of the life of Andrew J. Osborne were 
passed. He then came west to Livingston 
county, Michigan, where he remained four 
years, and in the spring of 1844 came to 
Illinois and lived in Henderson county for 
two years. In December, 1846, he came 
to Whiteside county, which, with the ex- 
ception mentioned, has since been his home. 
On his arrival here, he engaged as a farm 
hand and worked for various persons until 
1848, when he made a trip on foot to New 
York state, driving a herd of cattle. Leav- 
ing the village of Erie in June, 1848, he 
arrived at his destination in September fol- 
lowing. He was in the employ of Collins 
Belding, and on the trip earned ten dollars 
per month, together with his expenses en 
route. The entire distance was covered on 
foot. 

Arriving in New York, Mr. Osborne de- 
cided to attend school for a time, and did 
remain there one year for that purpose. 
Previous to this time his opportunities were 
limited for obtaining an education, but 
being a great reader he had laid the founda- 
tion for a good education. The eastern 
pupils were very much surprised to think that 
one could come from the west even know- 
ing how to read and write, or having any 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



393 



knowle,dge of mathematics. In 1849 he re- 
turned to Whiteside county, and for the 
next four winters was engaged in teaching, 
working on farms during the summer 
months. 

On the 24th of March, 1853, Mr. Os- 
borne was united in marriage with Miss Eliz- 
abeth M. Smith, daughter of B. H. Smith, 
who was numbered among the early set- 
tlers of Kane county. By this union eleven 
children were born, ten of whom are now 
living — Charles F., Alia C, Henry A., 
Barnett A., Jessie E., Grant S., Elizabeth 
C, Rebecca, Lucy and Andrew J. The 
deceased one is Rachel M. 

After his marriage, Mr. Osborne com- 
menced farming in Erie township, having 
previously acquired one hundred and tvventj' 
acres of land. He there remained following 
the vocation of a farmer for a number of 
years, and then moved to the village of 
Erie, where he erected a steam saw mill 
and engaged in sawing lumber. He soon 
disposed of his interest in the mill and 
moved to western Iowa, where he lived Hve 
years. Not lieing satisfied with that coun- 
try, he returned to Illinois in the spring of 
1861, and first located in Henry county, 
where he engaged in farming. In the win- 
ter of 1863 he again returned to W'hiteside 
county, which has since been his home. 
For a number of years after his return he 
engaged in farming. He then turned his 
attention to bridge building, which occupa- 
tion he followed for about twenty years, or 
until about 1890, since which time he has 
lived practically a retired life. 

In the beginning of the Civil war, Mr. Os- 
borne's attention was called to the question 
of the national finances of the country, 
and he conceived the idea of converting the 
national debt into the paper money of the 



country, and have the nation issue through 
the treasury department a form of credit 
money, or paper, for all supplies and serv- 
ices rendered during the war, as well as for 
other purposes. In regard to this question, 
he first published a leaflet called " The Phi- 
losophy of Money." This leaflet enuncia- 
ted the principles on what was afterwards 
founded the greenback policy of the gov- 
ernment, which, in effect, was that the debt 
of the nation is a legal tender to all the 
people thereof. Three hundred copies of 
this leaflet were sent to the various mem- 
bers of both branches of the national legis- 
lature. This was before the bill was passed 
provided for the issuing of "greenbacks." 
Whether the ideas on which that law was 
founded came directly from Mr. Osborne or 
not, it is certain that he advocated substan- 
tially the plan long before the passage of 
the law. 

Mr. Osborne has continued to advocate 
the principles on which the greenback law 
was founded to the present time, and in 
advocacy of his views has occupied the lec- 
ture platforms and published several pam- 
phlets on the subject, besides contributing to 
the local press. In 1879 he published a 
pamphlet entitled "A Treatise on Money," 
which was extensively circulated and well 
received. In 1898 he published a book en- 
titled "The Monetary Revolution,' in 
which he advocated the theory of the ad- 
vance in the philosophy and science of money 
adapted to a republican form of govern- 
ment, and the sovereignty of the people. 
The book was dedicated to "Liberty and 
Labor." A perusal of the work convinces 
one of the author's deep thought and fa- 
miliarity with the subject of the financial 
system of the country. He has made it his 
life-long study, and his views are well 



394 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



worth}' the consideration of the statesmen 
of the nation. 

Mr. Osborne was the leader of the 
Greenback party in Whiteside county, and 
in 1882 was nominated by his party a can- 
didate for the legislature, but owing to the 
weakness of the party he failed of an elec- 
tion, although he received a handsome vote 
in the district. His own township, how- 
ever, gave him a majority of its votes, 
which was, indeed, a compliment. He has 
always been a friend of the laboring classes, 
and in the advocacy of his views on the 
monetary questions of the day, he endeav- 
ors to present some views beneficial to the 
men who toil and fall, failing to receive just 
recompense for their labors. He is a fre- 
quent contributor to the Legal Topics, a 
paper of well known repute, published in 
Fulton, Illinois, and his contributions find 
many readers, who read to their profit. As 
a citizen and neighbor, he is greatly esteemed 
by all. 



FRANCIS O'NEIL. Among the more 
prominent and enterprising farmers of 
Hahnaman township who are of alien birth 
is the gentleman whose name heads this 
sketch. Like others of his countrymen he 
has brought to the new world the habits of 
economy and frugality which are inherent 
characteristics of his native land, and the 
exercise of which, accompanied by industry 
and good management, have raised him 
from a humble position to one of affluence. 
He now owns and operates a fine farm of 
four hundred and twenty acres in section 
15, Hahnaman township, a mile and a half 
from Deer Grove. 

Mr. O'Neil, who is familiarly called 
Frank by his numerous friends, was 



born in County Mead, Ireland, in July, 
1842, and in 1864 came to Amer- 
ica, landing in Quebec, Canada. He went 
at once to New York city, where he arrived 
in May of that year, and after spending 
eight weeks there, he went to Connecticut, 
being employed for about a year on the 
construction of Fort Hale at East Haven. 
He next drove an oil wagon in Melbourn, 
New Jersey, for about two years, and in the 
fall of 1867 came to Whiteside county, Illi- 
nois, joining his brother, William O'Neil, 
who had located here about six months 
previously. After working at farm labor 
by the month for several years, in 1872 he 
purchased eighty acres of his present farm 
from William McCune. At that time it was 
a wild piece of swampy land, but he got up 
a petition for a ditch, which was at length 
constructed though it cost him fifteen hun- 
dred and twenty dollars. Mr. O'Neil 
drained, fenced and improved his first pur- 
chase, erecting at first only a small house 
upon the place, but as time has advanced, 
and he has prospered in his undertakings, 
he has added to his landed possessions until 
he now has four hundred and twenty acres of 
land, which he has placed under a high 
state of cultivation and improved with good 
buildings, including a pleasant home. He 
makes a specialty of stock, raising and fat- 
tening hogs and cattle for the market. 

While in New Jersey, Mr. O'Neil was 
married, September 5, 1867, to Miss Wini- 
fred Finner, and to them have been born 
five children: Margaret, wife of William 
Drew, of Sterling; William is a contractor 
on the canal; Henry is in the employ of his 
brother, T. L., of Prophetstown; Frank, 
who helps carry on the home farm; and 
T. L., a business man of Prophetstowri. 

Politically Mr. O'Neil is a supporter of 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



395 



the Republican party and its principles, and 
his fellow citizens, recognizing his worth 
and ability, have elected him to several lo- 
cal offices, the duties of which he has most 
capably discharged. He has been drainage 
commissioner of the township; collector 
two years; township trustee; a member of 
the school board; and clerk of the district. 



JOHN E. MOSIER, one of the gallant 
defenders of the Union during the Civil 
war, and a prominent retired farmer of 
Rock Falls, residing at No. 6ii Avenue A, 
was born in Cayuga county. New York, 
February 28, 1848. His grandfather, Elias 
Mosier, was a soldier of the wa'r of 1812. 
He was a native of New Jersey and a pio- 
neer of Cayuga county, New York, where 
he cleared and improved a farm. John 
Mosier, the father of our subject, was born 
in New Jersey, in 18 16, but was reared in 
Cayuga county, New York, where he mar- 
ried Miss Carolina Ransier, who was born 
in that county, April 26, 1829, a daughter 
of Peter Ransier, also one of the first set- 
tlers of the county. Her paternal grand- 
father, George Ransier, was a soldier of the 
Revolutionary war. He bought six hun- 
dred acres of government land in Cayuga 
county, which he subsequently gave to his 
six children, four sons and two daughters. 
His son, Peter Ransier, was a native of 
Onondaga county. New York, and in early 
life married Miss Elthea Bordman. They 
made their home in Cayuga county, where 
he died in 1854. After his marriage the 
father of our subject continued to engage in 
farming in that county until 1866, when he 
came to Illinois and took up his residence in 
Erie, Whiteside county, where he lived re- 
tired for some years. Later he made his 



home with a daughter in Middleport, New 
York, where he died October 30, 1898, at 
the ripe old age of eighty-two years. His 
remains were brought back to this county by 
our subject and interred in Leon cemetery, 
Prophetstown township. The wife and 
mother is still living and finds a pleasant 
home with our subject in Rock Falls. 

Mr. Mosier, of this review, passed his 
boyhood and youth in Cayuga county. New 
York, where he was living at the opening of 
the Civil war. In January, 1864, although 
only sixteen years of age, he joined the boys 
in blue of Company C, One Hundred and 
Eleventh New York Volunteer Infantry, 
which was assigned to the Second Corps, 
Army of the Potomac, and with that com- 
mand he participated in the battle of the 
Wilderness and was in active service until 
the surrender of General Lee, April 9, 1865. 
He received two flesh wounds but was never 
seriously injured. He participated in the 
grand review in Washington, D. C, at the 
close of the war, and was honorably dis- 
charged in that city, June 10, 1865. 

Two days later Mr. Mosier reached 
home. In January, 1866, at the age of 
eighteen years, he came to Whiteside 
county, Illinois, where he at first worked as 
a farm hand, but the following year he 
purchased forty acres of unimproved land 
in Prophetstown township, which he at 
once commenced to break and improve. Sub- 
sequently he bought an adjoining forty-acre 
tract, and still later sixty acres more, mak- 
ing a good farm of one hundred and forty 
acres, which he placed under a high state of 
cultivation and improved with substantial 
buildings. He continued the operation of 
his land until 1893, when he rented the farm 
and moved to Rock Falls. Here he owns 
a good home and is now living a retired life. 



396 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



He owns some valuable property in New 
York, having, in 1898, purchased a fine 
apple orchard of eighteen acres in Royalton, 
Niagara county. 

In Prophetstown, Mr. Mosier was mar- 
ried, February 23, 1870, to Miss Fannie E. 
Andrews, a native of that town, and to 
them were born three children, namely: 
Mamie, who is well educated and is now 
successfully engaged in teaching school; 
Erving J., who is married and engaged in 
farming; and Nellie, who has also been well 
educated. 

The Republican party has always found 
in Mr. Mosier a stanch supporter of its 
principles, since he cast his first presidential 
vote for General U. S. Grant, in 1872, but 
he has never sought political honors. He 
is a stanch friend of education and our pub- 
lic school system, has ever used his in- 
fluence to secure good schools and teachers, 
and for several years efficiently served as a 
member of the school board and clerk of 
the district. He is an honored member of 
the Grand Army post of Sterling, and is 
widely and favorably known throughout the 
county. His mother is a faithful member 
of the Christian church of Rock Falls. 



WARREN F. POWERS. Among the 
representative business men of the 
county none are more deserving of repre- 
sentation in this volume than Warren F. 
Powers, who for many years has been con- 
nected with the agricultural interests of the 
community, and who has, through his well- 
directed efforts, gained a handsome compe- 
tence that numbers him among the substan- 
tial citizens of his township. His keen dis- 
crimination, unflagging industry and reso- 
lute purpose are numbered among his 



salient characteristics, and thus he has won 
that prosperity which is the merited reward 
of honest effort. 

Mr. Powers was born in Palmyra town- 
ship, Lee county, Illinois, in September, 
185 I, his parents being Abijah and Amanda 
(Sprout) Powers, who were natives of Mass- 
achusetts, the former born in 18 14, the 
latter in 18 19. The father was educated 
in the common schools of his native state, 
and in 1837 came to the west, but after two 
years returned to the Bay state, and on 
the 8th of September, 1839, married Miss 
Sprout. He then brought his bride to Illi- 
nois, locating in Palmyra township, Lee 
county, where he later secured a claim of 
government land, for which he paid a dollar 
and a quarter per acre. From time to time 
he added to his property until he had two 
hundred and eighty-one acres in the home 
farm, and a timber tract of twenty-five 
acres near by. During the first years of 
his residence here he carried on general 
farming and later dealt extensively in thor- 
oughbred Durham cattle, doing more to im- 
prove the grade of stock raised in this sec- 
tion of the state than any other man of 
his time. He was also a prominent factor 
in public affairs, and exerted a strong in- 
fluence in the public life of the community 
in the side of progress and improvement. 
He filled all the township offices, and in 
1876 was elected to the state legislature, 
where he served one term and then de- 
clined a renomination. He was a promi- 
nent member of the assembly during that 
session, served on several important com- 
mittees and was a warm friend of R. R. 
Hitt. He was also a leading member of the 
Old Settlers' Association and his upright 
and useful life won him many friends in 
all classes of society. He continued to 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



399 



supervise the management of his farm until 
his death, which occurred in July, 1891, his 
remains being interred in Prairieville ceme- 
tery. His widow still survives him and is 
now living on the old homestead with her 
son, Austin. They became early and in- 
fluential members of the Congregational 
church, Mr. Powers contributing liberally 
to all the charitable and other work of the 
church. He contributed more than one- 
third of the amount necessary for the erec- 
tion of the house of worship, and at his 
death bequeathed one thousand dollars to 
the church, the interest of which is used in 
the church property. He left to his family 
the priceless heritage of an untarnished 
name and his example is well worthy of 
emulation. 

Mr. and Mrs. Powers were the parents 
of six children: Alfred A., the eldest, died 
at the age of six years. Alvira A. is the wife 
of Captain Charles Eckles, of Marshalltown, 
Iowa, a native of England who came to the 
United States with his parents during his 
childhood, and at the breaking out of the 
Civil war enlisted in 1861, as a member of 
Company D, Thirty-fourth Illinois Infantry, 
in which he served until the cessation of 
hostilities. He now has three sons and a 
daughter. Nellie C. , the third child of Abi- 
jah Powers, died in September, iSSg. She 
was the wife of Anson Thummell and left a 
husband and five children to mourn her 
loss. Mary A. is the wife of James C. 
Nickerson, and has two sons and a daugh- 
ter. Warren F. is the next of the family. 
Austin resides on the home farm with his 
mother. He married Miss Adella Tollman, 
of Iowa, and they have three children. All 
the members of this family were born in 
Palmyra township, Lee county. 

Warren Powers was educated in the 



common schools of Lee county and spent 
one year each as a student in Mount Vernon, 
Iowa and in Evanstown, Illinois. He re- 
mained on the home farm with his parents 
until he had attained his majority and in 
December, 1872, wedded Miss Mary E. 
Miller, also a native of Lee county. The 
lady is a daughter of Henry and Frederica 
Miller, and her ancestors, natives of Ger- 
many, came to the United States in 1837. 
Her parents had two sons and seven daugh- 
ters, she being the second in order of birth. 
Seven children have been born to Mr. and 
Mrs. Powers, namely: Eva M., wife of 
Charles Le Fevre, of Sterling township; 
Willard D., bookkeeper for Mr. John Peck, 
a coal dealer of Sterling; Frank W., who is 
engaged in bookkeeping for a coal company 
in Clark City, Illinois; Earl A., who died in 
infancy; Lottie A.; Nellie A. and Morris A., 
at home. 

In the spring of 1873 Mr. Powers took 
up his abode in Jordan township, White- 
side county and for nine years resided a 
mile west of his pleasant home, to which he 
came in 1882, remaining here continuously 
since. He has three hundred and twenty 
acres on section 36, Jordan township, the 
greater part of which is under a high state 
of cultivation. All of the buildings and 
other substantial improvements on the place 
stand as monuments to his thrift and enter- 
prise, and indicate his progressive spirit. 
He has been generally successful in his 
farming operations and has dealt quite 
largely in hogs and cattle, fattening them 
for the market. For the past two 
years he has rented his farm and now 
has fifty cows on the place in charge of a 
tenant. He thus furnishes milk to the 
Anglo-Swiss condensed milk factory, in 
Dixon, and from this derives a good in- 



400 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



come. His life has always been a busy and 
active one, and has brought him a high 
degree of prosperity. 

In politics Mr. Powers is a Republican, 
and socially he is connected with the Mod- 
ern Woodmen of America, the Knights of 
the Globe, and the Ancient Order of United 
Workmen. Mr. and Mrs. Powers belong 
to the Congregational church in Prairieville, 
of which four of their children are also 
members, and of which he is serving as 
trustee. He is also a prominent worker in 
the Sabbath-school, and does all in his 
power to promulgate the principles of 
Christianity whereby men are made better 
and life becomes happier and holier. 



CHARLES P. GARWICIv is the junior 
member of the firm of Ackerman & 
Garwick, well-known merchants and bank- 
ers of Coleta, Whiteside county, Illinois. 
He is a wide-awake, energetic business man 
— a true type of western progress and en- 
terprise — and in his undertakings has stead- 
ily prospered until he is now one of the 
substantial citizens of his section. 

Mr. Garwick was born on the iith of 
December, 1853, in Butler county, Pennsyl- 
vania, and is a son of Jacob and Lena 
(Wolff) Garwick, natives of Alsace, Ger- 
many, who on coming to the new world lo- 
cated in Butler county, Pennsylvania, where 
they spent four years. The following year 
was passed in Cook county, Illinois, and at 
the end of that time they took up their 
residence in Carroll county, this state. In 
his native land the father had followed the 
miller's trade, but during his residence in 
Pennsylvania took up the occupation of 
farming, and in 1856 purchased eighty acres 
of uncultivated land in Carroll county, Illi- 



nois, to which he subsequently added a one- 
hundred-and-sixty-acre tract, making a fine 
farm of two hundred and forty acres in Fair 
Haven township. Upon that place he con- 
tinued to make his home until called from 
this life in 1878, at the age of sixty-six 
years. He was quite a progressive and suc- 
cessful farmer, and was highly respected by 
all who knew him. His wife died in 1884, 
at the age of seventy-four years. 

To this worthy couple were born eight 
children, of whom six reached years of ma- 
turity, namely: (1) Jacob, a resident of 
Clyde township, Whiteside county, married 
Sarah Zook, and died at the age of sixty- 
two years, leaving five children. (2) Henry, 
also a resident of Clyde township, is mar- 
ried and has six children. (3) George was 
a member of the Thirty-fourth Illinois Vol- 
unteer Infantry during the Civil war, and was 
killed in a skirmish. He was unmarried. 
(4) Frederick, formerly of Clyde township, 
but now a retired citizen of Chadwick, Car- 
roll county, married Macky Deitz, and has 
four children. (5) Louis, also a retired 
farmer of Chadwick, who was formerly a 
resident of Fair Haven township, Carroll 
county, married first Louisa Smith, who died 
leaving one child, and for his second wife he 
married Bertha Gragorious, by whom he 
has two children, and Charles P. is the 
youngest. 

Our subject grew to manhood upon the 
home farm and acquired his literary educa- 
tion in the district schools of Fair Haven 
township. He remained with his father 
until he was married, December 17, 1877, 
to Miss Barbara Ackerman, a sketch of 
whose family is given in connection with 
that of C. E. Ackerman on another page of 
this volume. By this union three children 
have been born: Jacob, who resides with 



I 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



401 



his parents in Coleta; Lizzie, who is attend- 
ing the high school of Milledgeville; and 
Lettie, who is also attending school at that 
place. 

After his marriage, Mr. Garwick took 
charge of one hundred and twenty acres of 
the home farm, to which he subsequently 
added eighty acres, making a fine farm of 
two hundred acres on section 25, Fair 
Haven township, Carroll county, which he 
successfully operated until January, 1895, 
when he rented the farm and moved to 
Coleta, purchasing a half interest in the 
general mercantile business of C. E. Acker- 
man at that place. They also do a good 
banking business under the firm name of 
Ackerman & Garwick, and in both under- 
takings have been eminently successful. 
They are sagacious, far-sighted business 
men of known reliability, and have the 
confidence and respect of their many 
patrons. 

Fraternally Mr. Garwick is a member of 
Lafayette camp. No. 76, M. W. A., of 
which he is one of the three directors, and 
also belongs to Coleta garrison, No. 160, 
K. of G. He is a member of the Lutheran 
church, but as there is no church of that 
denomination in Coleta, he now attends the 
Methodist Episcopal church. His political 
support is given the Republican party, and 
while living on the farm he most efficient]}' 
served as school director for nine years. 



THOMAS J. WORM AN, an honored and 
highly respected citizen of Rock Falls, 
whose home is on East Third street, was 
born in Hampshire county. West \'irginia, 
October 5, 1827, and is of German extrac- 
tion, the Worman family being founded in 
America by two brothers, natives of Ger- 



many, who were among the first to settle 
in Maryland. 

W. W. Worman, the father of our sub- 
ject, was born inTowson, Maryland, October 
15. 1802, and there spent his boyhood and 
youth. When a young man he went to 
W'est \'irginia, where he married Miss 
Nancy C. Cundiff, who was of Welsh an- 
cestry. Her father, John Cundiff, was 
born at Fauquier Court House, Virginia, 
and was the son of an Englishman and a 
pioneer of the Old Dominion, who was a 
cavalryman during the Revolutionary war 
and took part in the battle of Brandywine. 
The father of our subject became a promi- 
nent contractor and builder of Hampshire 
county, West \'irginia, and erected the 
court house and several public buildings in 
Romney. About 1838 he moved to I\nox 
county, Ohio, where he successfully carried 
on business for some years along the same 
line, but after the death of his wife he re- 
turned to Maryland and remained there for 
several years. He finally joined our sub- 
ject in this county and here died April 24, 
1 883, his remains being first interred in Rock 
Falls cemetery. 

In Ohio, Thomas J. Worman grew to 
manhood, and he attended the common and 
select schools of that state. During his 
youth he learned the carpenter's and joiner's 
trade with his father, serving a three years' 
apprenticeship. When a young man he 
came to Illinois, in 1849, and first located 
in La Salle, making the journey from Chi- 
cago to that place by way of the canal on 
the Red Bird line of boats. In La Salle he 
worked at the carpenter's and joiner's trade 
for about two years. 

While there Mr. Worman was married, 
December 16, 1852, to Miss Sarah P. 
Brown, who was born near Buffalo, Erie 



402 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



county. New York. Her parents, Joshua 
and Elizabeth (Keyser) Brown, were both 
natives of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and 
were married in a Quaker meeting house in 
that city, as they were members of the So- 
ciety of Friends. From their native state 
they removed to Erie county, New York, 
where Mr. Brown was engaged in business 
as a merchant tailor for some years, but in 
1835 they came to LaSalle county, Illinois, 
and took up their residence in Troy Grove, 
where he took up land engaged in the midst 
of the wilderness opened up a farm. He 
died there in 1842, but his wife survived 
him many years and spent her last days 
with Mrs. Worman in Rock Falls, where 
she died in 1881, at the age of eighty-two 
years, being laid to rest in Sterling ceme- 
tery. She was the mother of thirteen chil- 
dren. 

Mr. and Mrs. Worman began their do- 
mestic life in La Salle, where they made 
their home while he was employed as a civil 
engineer on the Illinois Central Railroad, 
between Dixon and Bloomington, for three 
years. Later they removed to Mendota, 
where as a contractor and builder he erect- 
ed a number of public building and private 
residence, including the Blackstone school. 
During the Civil war, he enlisted at Mendo- 
ta, in August, 1 86 1, as a private in Com- 
pany E, Thirty-seventh Illinois Volunteer 
Infantry, and was in active service until dis- 
charged for disability in 1862, taking part 
in the battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas, and 
several skirmishes, and following General 
Price through that state and Missouri. 
After being discharged he returned to his 
home in Mendota, but later joined the Fif- 
teenth Kentucky Cavalry, and remained 
with that regiment until 1863, when he was 
again mustered out and returned home. 



Subsequently he was a member of the Thir- 
ty-first Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Colonel 
Logan's old regiment, and he was in active 
service with that command until the close 
of the war, when he was again honorably 
discharged. He continued to engage in 
business as a contractor and builder in 
Mendota until after the great fire in Chica- 
go, in 1871, when he went to that city and 
for three years aided in its reconstruction. 
In 1 876 he became a resident of Rock Falls, 
where he bought a lot and erected his pres- 
ent residence. Here he engaged in con- 
tracting and building for a time and also 
worked in the shops of the Iveystone Manu- 
facturing Company at intervals until 1897, 
when on account of failing health he re- 
tired altogether from active labor. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Worman were born 
ten children, namely: Thomas A., a busi- 
ness man of Rock Falls, residing at home; 
William S., who is married and engaged in 
business in Chicago; Edgar B., who is now 
at home; Kate E., wife of L. L. Emmons, 
Jr., editor of the Morrison Record; P'anny 
L., wife of O. J. Thompson, a stock dealer 
of Des Arc, Arkansas; Fred C, who is con- 
nected with the mail service and resides in 
Butte, Montana; Charles G., a stenographer 
in the office of the superintendent of the 
Northwestern Railroad at Boone, Iowa; 
Henry K., who died unmarried, June 16, 
1888; William D., who died in childhood, 
and Charles, who died in infancy. 

Politically, Mr. Worman was first a 
Democrat, but in 1856 joined the Republic- 
an party, and in 1868 was a delegate to the 
Prohibition party in Chicago, and has since 
affiliated with the last named party. At 
local elections, however, he votes for the 
best men, regardless of party lines. For 
some years he was a member of the board 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



403 



of education. Fraternally, he belongs to 
the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and 
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, 
being an Ancient Odd Fellow, and to the lat- 
ter two of his sons also belong. His wife is 
an earnest member of the Congregational 
church of Rock Falls, and they stand high 
in the community where they have so long 
made their home. Those who know them 
best are numbered among their warmest 
friends, and no citizens of Rock Falls are 
more honored or esteemed. 



BENJAMIN F. LATHE. One of the 
leading citizens of Morrison is Benja- 
min F. Lathe, who, after an extremely act- 
ive and useful life, has retired to enjoy the 
fruits of his toil. He has passed through 
the hardships of frontier e.xistence, and has 
met with many reverses, yet has bravely 
surmounted the difficulties in his pathway, 
winning a position of affluence and influence 
in the community. 

His father, Reuel Lathe, a native of 
Charlton, Massachusetts, born in 1803, was 
a farmer. For a wife, the latter chose 
Sally Robbins, a native of the same town, 
born in iSoo, and at the time of their mar- 
riage making her home with her grandfather. 
In 1845 the Lathe family removed from 
their late home in Steuben county. New 
York, to Lyndon township, Whiteside coun- 
ty, Illinois. John, the second son of Reuel 
Lathe, had come to these prairies the year be- 
fore and had pre-empted land, which he pur- 
chased when the land office was established. 
The father continued to improve his farm un- 
til shortly before his death, which event took 
place in 1861. His widow remained on the 
old homestead with her son Benjamin until 
she passed to the silent land, in 1876. The 



father was a Republican, and in religion 
was a Universalist. 

Benjamin F. Lathe, whose birth oc- 
curred June 15, 1830, in Steuben county, 
New York, is one of ten children, two of 
whom died in infancy. Moses, who came 
to Illinois in 1848, died in this county. He 
had five children, all but one of whom sur- 
vive, and one of his sons, Charles, lives on 
Lathe island, near Erie, Illinois. John, 
the second son of Reuel Lathe, died at his 
home in Lyndon township, and of his two 
sons one is deceased, and Hosea B. is a resi- 
dent of Galesburg. Jabe;^, who was mar- 
ried but had no children, lives near Erie 
with his nephew and is the owner of some 
farm land near Lyndon. Sarah E., with 
her husband, Milo Chapin, lives in Proph- 
etstown, and their only surviving child, 
Samuel, is a resident of Portland township. 
Phifcbe A., who never married, died in 1861, 
when about twenty-seven years of age. Vio- 
letta A., deceased, wife of J. E. Sands, had 
four children of whom three survive — Fred, 
Mrs. Ella Marcy, of Lyndon township, and 
Frank E., of Morrison. Lasira D., widow 
of James Kno.x, of Mount Pleasant town- 
ship, has three children: James Reuel, of 
Monrovia, California; Edgar P., of Union 
Grove township; and Fred M., of Mount 
Pleasant township. 

When he was a lad of fifteen years B. F. 
Lathe came to Whiteside county, and until 
he was twenty-six years of age he remained 
on the parental homestead, engaged in agri- 
culture. After his marriage the young man 
arranged to purchase his father's farm of 
one hundred and sixty acres, and in time he 
had placed it under high cultivation, i7iak- 
ing valuable improvements, and eventually 
increasing the boundaries of his place until 
it now comprises two hundred and forty 



404 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



acres, all situated in Lyndon township. He 
has raised stock and grain, and has met 
with success in his various undertakings. 
In 1892 he rented the farm and retired, and 
for a year lived in Morrison. He then joined 
his son and purchased two hundred and 
twenty eight acres of the Thomas farm, and 
there dwelt for four years. In 1897 he be- 
came the owner of a new house on East 
Main street, Morrison, paying two thousand 
dollars for the property, which he improved 
and is now making his home. 

In i860 Mr. Lathe suffered greatly by 
the Comanche tornado, which devastated 
his homestead, wrecking his house, barns 
and orchard, everything being a total loss. 
He himself was injured seriously, and to- 
day carries scars on the head and face as 
mementoes of the long weeks when death 
fought for his life and almost won the vic- 
tory. Upon recovering he bravely set about 
making a new start, for it was necessary for 
him to plant a new orchard and build a new 
house and barns and buy new implements 
for the cultivation of his farm. In 1897 he 
fell from a high wagon and sustained an in- 
jury to his hip which will make him lame 
during the remainder of his career. For 
si.\teen years he was a school director in 
Lyndon township, and in political faith he 
has been a stalwart Republican. Relig- 
iously he is an adherent of the Universalist 
church. 

The marriage of B. F. Lathe and Lydia 
Knox was solemnized February 20, 1856. 
She was born in Erie county, New York, 
September 25, 1831, a daughter of James 
and Amy (Martin) Knox, who removed to 
Whiteside county in 1835. Here they were 
among the earliest settlers, and for years 
the Indians, whose camp was not far dis- 
tant, in the Big Woods, on the Ox-bow 



river, traded with them, obtaining pro- 
visions and clothing. For over a year the 
Knox family lived largely upon the meat of 
wild turkeys and wild hogs, the latter being 
very plentiful in this region at that day. 
James Ivnox built and operated the first 
ferry-boat on the river, near Prophetstown, 
and for many years it was one of the well- 
known landmarks of this county. He 
owned a farm on the present site of Morri- 
son, later sold it and moved one mile east 
of Morrison, and died at his old home there 
in i860. His wife subsequently made her 
home with one of her sons until her death 
in 1866. All of her ten sons and two 
daughters lived to maturity. William, de- 
ceased, married Mary J. Emery, who, with 
six of their seven children, survives. Martin 
died in California. Alson, deceased, mar- 
ried Julia Weaver, who, with nine of their 
children, survives him. Peter died, leav- 
ing a widow, H. Emeline (Hawley) Knox. 
James married the sister of B. F. Lathe, 
and died, leaving three children. Archi- 
bald, deceased, married Minerva R. Garri- 
son, who is living ih Mount Pleasant town- 
ship, as are their four children. Henry L. 
died in Mount Pleasant township, where he 
owned a good farm. John J., of Mount Pleas- 
ant township, married Lucy Humphreys. 
Mary died, leaving a husband, Byron Mc- 
Intyre, now of Michigan, and four children. 
Allen, who resides in Kansas, married Mary 
Utley, and has several children. Louis 
Knox, a drayman of Morrison, wedded 
Emma Hulett, and has one son, Louis. 

The marriage of Benjamin F. Lathe and 
wife was blessed with four children. Alice 
R. became the wife of W. H. Bloom, editor 
of the Courier, of Sutherland, Iowa. David 
B., unmarried, is living at home wilh his 
parents. James F. is a thrifty young farmer 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



405 



of Mount Pleasant township, where he owns 
a valuable homestead. He married Nettie 
McNutt, and has a pleasant home. Clara 
L. is the wife of David L. Broyles, of Union, 
Iowa. He is a farmer and owns a good 
homestead of two hundred and eij^hteen 
acres. 



A 



BRAHAM B. TITUS. Among theself- 
made men of \\'hiteside county who 
have accumulated a sufficiency of this 
world's goods through their own energy and 
thrift to enable them in their declining 
years to lay aside active business and live 
retired, is the gentleman whose name intro- 
duces this sketch. He was born in Onondaga 
county, New York, November 8, 1828, a 
son of Leonard and Maria (Becker) Titus, 
both natives of the Empire state. The 
father was a mechanic and worked at the 
blacksmith's trade in New York until 1835, 
when he removed to Gallia county, Ohio, 
and purchased a farm. He also erected a 
shop and divided his time between work at 
his trade and agricultural pursuits. He 
died there in 1848. His wife survived him 
many years and reared their family, dying 
in 1896, at the advanced age of ninety- 
three. 

The early life of our subject was princi- 
pally passed in Gallia county, Ohio, where 
he attended the district schools through the 
winter months and aided in the farm work 
during the summer season. He remained 
with his mother until coming west in 1850, 
when he located in Richland county, Illi- 
nois, though he afterward worked by the 
month for three seasons in Morgan county, 
this state. 

In Richland county, Mr. Titus was mar- 
ried, in April, 1853, to Miss Elizabeth 



Chauncey, a native of that county and a 
daughter of Isaac Chauncey, who was from 
Tennessee and was one of the pioneers of 
Richland county. By this union seven 
children were born, namely: Leonard, 
who is married and engaged in farming in 
Champaign county, Illinois; Helen, at 
home; Edgar, who is married and engaged 
in business in Stewart, as a dealer in lum- 
ber, coal and grain. Ira, who is married 
and engaged in business with his brother in 
Stewart; Charles, who is married and fol- 
lows farming in Champaign county; Martha, 
deceased wife of Fred Hitchcock, by whom 
she had one child, Neleta; and Jesse, who 
is married and follows farming in Lee 
county, Illinois. 

For two or three years after his mar- 
riage, Mr. Titus engaged in farming on 
rented land and then bought ten acres in 
Richland county, upon which he built a log 
cabin, and to which he later added an ad- 
joining ten acres. In the meantime he 
went to Pikes Peak in 1858 and spent nine 
months in gold mining with fair success. 
He not only cultivated his own land, but 
also operated rented tracts and worked by 
the day at anything which he could find to 
do. In 1863 he removed to Champaign 
county, where after farming upon rented 
land for si.x years, he purchased a forty-acre 
tract of wild land, to the improvement and 
cultivation of which he devoted his energies 
until 1874, when he rented the place, and 
for si.x years lived upon a farm of four hun- 
dred acres, which he leased. Here he met 
with excellent success in his farming opera- 
tions, and was finally able to purchase one 
hundred and sixty acres of raw prairie land, 
which he broke, fenced, ditched and im- 
proved with good buildings. In 1892 he 
sold that place for eighty dollars per acre 



4o6 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



and purchased a well improved farm of 
three hundred and twenty acres in Mont- 
morency township, Whiteside county, which 
he still owns. In 1893 he bought residence 
property in Rock Falls, where he has since 
made his home, while devoting his time to 
looking after the operation of his farm. He 
had no capital to aid him in starting out in 
life for himself, but he has worked his way 
steadily upward until he is now one of the 
prosperous citizens of the town. His suc- 
cess is due to his perseverance, untiring en- 
terprise, resolute purpose and commendable 
zeal, and withal his actions have been guid- 
ed by an honesty of purpose that none have 
questioned. 

In his political affiliations Mr. Titus was 
a Whig from the time he cast his first pres- 
idential ballot for Zachary Taylor until 
i860, when he voted for Abraham Lincoln, 
and continued to support the Republican 
party until after voting for General Grant in 
1868, but since that time has been indepen- 
dent in politics. During his residence in 
Champaign county he served as drainage 
commissioner for si.x years, and has also 
been alderman of Rock Falls for one term. 
He united with the Odd Fellows lodge at 
Olney, Illinois, on Christmas eve, 1857, has 
since filled all the offices, and is now past 
grand of his lodge. Wherever known he is 
held in high regard, and he has made many 
warm friends during his residence in this 
county. 



JOHN R. RENNER, an enterprising and 
energetic agriculturist, residing on sec- 
tion 18, Hahnaman township, Whiteside 
county, Illinois, was born in Greene county, 
Pennsylvania, February 17, 1842, a son of 
William and Elmina (Reinhart) Renner, 



also natives of that county, and that latter 
a daughter of John Reinhart. In 1840 the 
father first came to Whiteside county, Illi- 
nois, and located at Deer Grove, where he 
took up a claim of one hundred and sixty 
acres, and two years later he was joined by 
his family. Later he entered other land, 
and for several years devoted his attention 
to the improvement and cultivation of his 
farm, but finally sold out and removed to 
Bureau county, Illinois. A few years later, 
however, he returned to this county and 
located on the farm near where his widow 
still resides. There he died in 1859, hon- 
ored and respected by all who knew him. 
His widow has now reached the ripe old 
age of eighty-four years. 

As soon as old enough to be of any 
assistance, John R. Renner began to aid in 
the arduous task of converting the wild land 
into well tilled fields and his education was 
acquired in the primitive schools of those 
early days. During the Civil war he was 
one of the brave boys in blue, having en- 
listed in August, 1862, in Company K, One 
Hundred and Twelfth Illinois Volunteer In- 
fantry, under command of Colonel Thomas 
J. Henderson, later General Henderson. 
With the Army of the Cumberland he par- 
ticipated in the engagements at Somerset, 
Kentucky; Knoxville; Franklin, and the 
Atlanta campaign. He was taken prisoner 
at Columbia, Tennessee, November 30, 
1864, and sent to Andersonville prison, 
where he was held until the close of the 
war and then released. He joined the fed- 
eral forces at Jacksonville, Florida, and on 
his return north was honorably discharged 
at Springfield, Illinois. He reached home 
in July, 1865, and resumed work on the 
home farm. Mr. Renner's first purchase of 
land consisted of eighty acres on section 21, 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RFXORD. 



407 



Hahnaman, and to it he later added another 
eighty-acre tract. Since then he has pur- 
chased one hundred and eight acres on sec- 
tion 17, the same township, and since owns 
both places, which he has converted into 
well improved and highly cultivated farms. 
He is a skillful and systematic farmer and 
due success has not been denied him. 

In his political affiliations, Mr. Renner 
is a Republican, and has never faltered in 
his allegiance to that party since casting his 
first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln, 
while in the army in 1864. He has been a 
member of the township Republican com- 
mittee and has been a delegate to the county 
conventions of his party. He was elected 
and served as road commissioner for four- 
teen years, and was also drainage commis- 
sioner ten years. He is an honored mem- 
ber of the Grand Army post of Tampico, 
and as a citizen and soldier he merits and 
receives the respect and esteem of all who 
know him. 



AD. WOOD, a well-known farmer and 
highly esteemed citizen of Newton 
township, whose home is on section 22, 
was born in Berkshire, Massachusetts, De- 
cember 8, 1849, a son of Mason B. and 
Mary (Paul) Wood. The father was a na- 
tive of Massachusetts, and in that state en- 
gaged in farming during early life, but in 
1865 he came to Whiteside county, Illinois, 
and took up his residence in Newton town- 
ship, where he died in March, 1887. His 
wife passed away in June, 1886. In their 
family were seven children, namely: Ze- 
lotus R., who is now conducting a hotel in 
Berkshire county, Massachusetts; Amelia, 
wife of J. B. Frazelle, of Clinton, Iowa; 
Susan, who married Edward A. Tucker, 

23 



and both are now deceased; A. D., our sub- 
ject; John B., a farmer of Newton township, 
Whiteside county; Caroline, wife of W. H. 
Valentine, of Montana; and Olive, de- 
ceased. 

A. D. Wood remained at home with his 
parents until he was married, February 9, 
1888, to Miss Margaret Blean, who was 
born in Whiteside county, February 10, 
1851, a daughter of Robert and Margaret 
(Thompson) Blean, natives of Cumberland 
county, Pennsylvania. They now have one 
child, Lida M., who was born July 24, 1889, 
and is attending school. 

During his early life Mr. Wood became 
thoroughly familiar with all the duties which 
fall to the lot of the agriculturist, and 
throughout his active business life has suc- 
cessfully engaged in general farming and 
stock raising. After his marriage he located 
upon his own farm on section 28, Newton 
township, and there continued to reside un- 
til 1896, when he sold the place and moved 
to the H. Y. Beardsworth farm. He is the 
owner of eighty acres of valuable and well- 
improsed land on section 27. Politically 
he is a stanch supporter of the Republican 
party and its principles, but has never been 
a politician in the sense of ofTice seeking. 
He takes considerable interest in education- 
al affairs and has served as school treasurer 
for a number of years. Both himself and 
wife are faithful members of the Presbyte- 
rian church, of Newton, and he also belongs 
to the Knights of the Maccabees. 



PALMER COLLINS, the well-known 
and popular foreman of the Keystone 
Manufacturing Company, was born in New 
London county, Connecticut, April 22, 
1840, a son of Captain Amos and Phebe S. 



4o8 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



(Brown) Collins, also natives of Connecti- 
cut. His paternal grandfather, John Col- 
lins, was born in Rhode Island, but at an 
early day removed to the Nutmeg state. 
The maternal grandfather, Joshua Brown, 
was also a native of Rhode Island and a sol- 
dier of the war of 1812. The father was 
born in New London county, March 5, 
1808, and there he continued to make his 
home throughout life engaged in agricult- 
ural pursuits. He held a captain's commis- 
sion in the state militia. He died in 1885 
and his wife passed away in 1888. In their 
family were four children, two sons and 
two daughters, namely: Phebe E., wife of 
W. B. Brown, of Rock Falls; Palmer, our 
subject; Frances, who married Oliver G. 
Brown, and both died in Connecticut; and 
Lott K., who lives on the old homestead in 
that state. 

Palmer Collins was reared upon the 
home farm and educated in the common 
schools of the locality. On leaving home 
at the age of fifteen years he commenced 
working as a farm hand by the month and 
was thus employed for eight years, after 
which he engaged in farming on his own ac- 
count for seven years. In 1873 he came to 
Rock Falls, Illinois, where for two years he 
clerked in a store, and later accepted a po- 
sition in the Fayette dye factory. He ne.xt 
entered the employ of the Keystone Manu- 
facturing Company, and after being with 
them for seven years he was made foreman, 
which important position he has now ac- 
ceptably and creditably filled for eight 
years, being one of the most valued and 
trusted employes of the company. 

In Rock Falls, in October, 1877, Mr. 
Collins was united in marriage with Mrs. 
Mary L. Aument, who was born in Con- 
necticut, but was reared and educated in 



Whiteside county, Illinois. Her father, 
John Enderton, was a native of Massachu- 
setts, and was one of the pioneers of this 
county, being first engaged in business in 
Sterling and later in farming in this county. 
Prior to his marriage, Mr. Collins pur- 
chased a lot and built the house which has 
since been his home. Fraternally he is a 
member of the Ancient Order of United 
Workmen and politically he is independent. 
He takes quite an active and prominent 
part in public affairs, and for five years 
served as alderman of the city to the entire 
satisfaction of his constituents. His esti- 
mable wife is a member of the Congrega- 
tional church and both are held in high re- 
gard by all who know them. 

GEN. C. P. EGE, a veteran of the Civil 
war, with a record for service that is 
honorable and creditable, has been a promi- 
nent citizen of Whiteside county for nearly 
a half century. He was born at Pine Grove 
Furnace, Cumberland county, Pennsylva- 
nia, November 10, 1835, ^""^ is the son of 
Major Joseph A. and Jane E. (Woodburn) 
Ege, both of whom were also natives of 
Cumberland county, Pennsylvania. Cap- 
tain Peter Ege, the grandfather, was pro- 
prietor and manager of Pine Grove Furnace 
in an early day. He married Jane E. 
Arthur, of the same family from whom 
Chester A. Arthur, ex-president of the 
United States, was descended. Captain 
Peter Ege was captain of the Adamantine 
Guards, and during the Baltimore insurrec- 
tion was wounded in the arm. John Blean, 
who died in Newton township, Whiteside 
county, Illinois, in 1864, was his orderly 
sergeant, and warded off in part the saber 
blow aimed at Captain Ege's heart. Mi- 
chael Ege, the father of Peter, in company 



The biographical record. 



409 



with his brother Georpje, owned and oper- 
ated five furnaces and forges in Pennsylva- 
nia and one in New Jersey. He married 
Ann Dorothy Wolf, a sister of Peter Wolf, 
of York, Pennsylvania. The father of Mi- 
chael and George Ege was Michael Ege, a 
native of Germany, who came to this coun- 
try in 1738 in the sailing vessel Friendship, 
and in 1744 married Catherine Hultz, a sis- 
ter of Governor Hultz, of Pennsylvania. 
She was his second wife. The father of 
Michael Ege, Sr. , was Bernard Ege, also a 
a native of Germany, but who came to this 
country and lived and died in New Jersey. 
Captain Peter Ege was born January i, 
1776, and married Jane E. Arthur in 1799. 
At the reception following, George and 
Martha Washington were present, and, in 
pledging the bride's health, Martha Wash- 
ington claimed the privilege of naming the 
first born. The first born were twins and were 
named George W. and Martha. Their son, 
Joseph A. , the father of our subject, married 
Jane E. Woodburn, daughter of James and 
Agnes (Martin) Woodburn, the former of 
Irish and the latter of Scotch descent, both 
residents of Newville, Cumberland county, 
Pennsylvania. By this union there were 
eleven children, as follows: Jane Elmira.who 
died in infancy; Margaret W., wife of Major 
John G. McFarland, of Minneapolis, Minne- 
sota; Jane L., wife of Peter Mayberger, of 
Milwaukee, Wisconsin; C. P., the subject of 
this sketch; Martha E., wife of George Red- 
dy, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Joseph 
Stockton, a minister in Harrisburg, Penn- 
sylvania; Henrietta M., wife of Judge James 
S. Burd, of Minneapolis; Colonel Joseph 
A., who served as colonel and provost mar- 
shal during the Civil war; James H., a cor- 
poral in the Civil war, and who was three 
times sheriff of Hennepin county, Minne- 



sota, where he now resides; Frances H., 
who died single, in California; and Ellen, 
who died in infancy. The mother of these 
children dying, the father later married Kate 
Rush, who bore him four children: William 
Lusk, who died in Whiteside county, in 
1895; Charles F., of Newton township; Eva 
M., widow of Harper Earl, of Guthrie, 
Oklahoma; and Hettie B., a teacher in the 
female seminary at Oakland, California. 
The family came to Whiteside county in 
1857 and located at Kingsbury, where the 
father died, January 11, 1862. 

The subject of this sketch was reared in 
his native state, and after attending the 
Shippensburg and Big Springs Academies, 
he entered Dickerson College, Carlisle, 
Pennsylvania, where he learned civil engin- 
eering. In 1855 he came to Whiteside 
county and visited his cousin, Hettie Blean, 
wife of Lieutenant James Blean, who was 
killed at Prairiesville, Kentucky, in 1862. 
After visiting for a time, he went to Minne- 
apolis, Minnesota, and became associated 
with his brother-in-law. Major McFarland, 
who founded the first bank in that city. In 
the financial crisis in 1856 the bank failed 
and he returned to Whiteside county. 

In 1857 Mr. Ege engaged in farming in 
Newton township, making his home with 
Deborah Booth, who was a daughter of 
Edward Hart, the son of John Hart, one of 
the signers of the declaration of independ- 
ence. Her husband, Major William Booth, 
served with that rank in the war of 1812. 
His brother Isaac was a general; his brother 
Daniel was colonel of the Virginia volunteers 
in 1812; his brother John, a captain, and 
his brother Stephen a corporal. The cap- 
tain and corporal were killed in battle at 
Norfolk. Major Booth located in Xewton 
township in 1839 and died in 1854. Deb- 



410 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



orah Booth survived him many years, dy- 
ing in 1874. 

While boarding with Mrs. Booth, our 
subject there met for the first time his wife, 
then Miss Harriet L. Booth, a granddaugh- 
ter of Major and Deborah Booth, and 
daughter of Ehjah and Sarah (Beckler) 
Booth. They were married September 21, 
1 86 1. Mrs. Ege, who was one of a family 
of four children which grew to maturity, 
was born August i, 1838. The others were 
Sylvester H., born January 16, 1835, "O^' 
a resident of Albany, and who was among 
the first to go to California after the dis- 
covery of gold, was a sergeant of a California 
regiment during the Rebellion; Martha J., 
born December 25, 1839, is the wife of J. 
P. Early, a sergeant of the Ninety-third 
Illinois Volunteer Infantry, who was 
wounded at the battle of Champion Hill; 
and Melinda, born November 19, 1841, late 
the wife of S. H. Beckwith, of Ames, Iowa, 
and who had a son serving as sergeant in the 
Spanish-American war. The maternal 
grandmother of Mrs. Ege was Martha 
(Sweeney) Beckley, the only daughter of 
Captain Sweeney, one of the heroes of the 
Revolutionary war. He located in Lebanon, 
Pennsylvania, but was drowned while taking 
a cargo of goods from Baltimore. 

To General and Mrs. Ege nine children 
were born. Martha L. , born July 27, 1862, 
died December 25, 1864. Harriet, born 
October 29, 1865, died February 12, 1891. 
She was a talented young lady, a teacher 
and worker in the church, and was well 
and favorably known. Mary E., born Feb- 
uary 3, 1867, was married June 17, 1891, 
to Charles Wheaton, a druggist of Lorain, 
Illinois. Henry P., born October 12, 1868, 
is a druggist in Lorain. Henrietta W. , 
born January 2, 1870, was married March 



14, 1895, to W. F. Rumble, cashier of the 
bank at Laurel, Mississippi. Deborah 
Booth, born September 23, 1871, was mar- 
ried June 21, 1894, to W. L. Olds, of 
Albany, Illinois. Sylvester A., born August 
21, 1876, was a clerk on a gunboat, 
and a volunteer in Company M, First Mis- 
sissippi Volunteers, during the Spanish- 
American war. Sarah K. is a teacher in 
the public schools of Albany. One child 
died in infancy. 

In 1858-9, Mr. Ege was engaged a por- 
tion of his time as civil engineer with the Chi- 
cago & Northwestern Railway Company, 
and also one year later, his associates in the 
early spring of 1861 being George B. Mc- 
Clellan, afterwards major-general in the 
United States army and Democratic candi- 
date for president in 1864; Richard Bush- 
nell, who served as a major in the Thirteenth 
Illinois Regiment during the Civil war and 
was killed in the battle of Ringgold Georgia; 
and George Brown, who served as a captain 
during the same struggle. 

Coming through a long line of patriotic 
citizens, Mr. Ege was by nature and in- 
clination a lover of his country, and when 
the first call of President Lincoln was made 
for armed men to suppress the rebellion, he 
offered his services and enlisted as a private 
in the Ellsworth Zouaves, and April 15, 
1 86 1, left Chicago, under command of Cap- 
tain Ellsworth, for Springfield, Illinois, 
from which place they were sent to 
Birds Point, Illinois, where the com- 
mand was stationed for some time. 
Few veterans can show a better record 
for service than General Ege. His 
promotions came rapid, and his duties were 
arduous from the very date of his enlist- 
ment. He was later transferred from the 
Ellsworth Zouaves and August i, 1862, was 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



411 



commissioned first lieutenant of Company 
A, Thirty-fourth Ilhnois Volunteer Infantry, 
and was promoted captain of the same com- 
pany, Decetnber 12, 1862. On the 13th of 
September, 1864, he was promoted major 
of the regiment, and November 10 of the 
same year lieutenant-colonel. Five days 
later he was commissioned colonel, and 
July 4, 1865, was brevetted brigadier- 
general. From May 11, 1865, until 
mustered out of the service, he was brigade 
commander of the Second Brigade, Second 
Civision, Fourteenth Army Corps, under 
General George Thomas. 

The Thirty-fourth Illinois Regiment was 
known as Thomas' skirmish regiment, being 
drilled in skirmish tactics. Colonel Ege was 
the first man wounded in his regiment, his 
wound, which was in the hand, being re- 
ceived in a skirmish with the enemy at 
Green River, Kentucky, where two com- 
panies — A and F — were engaged. In the 
two days' fight at Shiloh his regiment was 
actively engaged, and he was slightly in- 
jured by the concussion of an exploding 
shell. He was with his regiment through 
the entire siege of Corinth, and was with 
it in the marches and counter-marches 
through Tennessee and Kentucky, and 
was with his command when Buell was 
cut off. He commanded the skirmish line 
at the battle of I\enesaw Mountain, and was 
ninth in command when the battle opened, 
there being eight ranking officers. In one- 
half hour's time they were all disabled — five 
dead and four wounded — and he was left in 
command of his regiment during the greater 
part of the siege of Atlanta. 

While charging the works at Rome, 
Georgia, Colonel Ege was again wounded 
and left on the field for about four hours. 
He was in command of his company in the 



charge at Jonesborough, and was in com- 
mand of the skirmish line at Triune and 
Bloody Run. He was part of the time in 
command of his regiment at Stone River, 
which was a three days' engagement, his 
colonel being wounded. While protecting 
a wagon train during that engagement, with 
a portion of his command he was cut ofi 
from the main army, but they fought their 
way out, saving the train, with the e.\cep- 
tion of four wagons. He commanded the 
skirmish line at Missionary Ridge, Lookout 
Mountain and Ringgold's Gap. He was 
with the advance guard for the relief of 
Burnside at Knoxville, and for three days 
they were short of provisions. Returning 
to Chattanooga, the regiment was in camp 
for a time. 

Colonel Ege was in command of his 
regiment in the memorable march to the 
sea with Sherman, being at all times in the 
advance or skirmish line. He was wounded 
the second time in the hand at Savannah, 
while charging the enemy's works. At the 
battle of Bloody Run he had his horse shot 
from under him, while at the same time ho 
received a wound from a ball in the neck, 
fortunately not severe. During the war he 
had three horses shot from under him. On 
account of the wound in his hand he was 
given leave of absence at Savannah, and, 
after a short furlough, he rejoined his regi- 
ment at Goldsboro, North Carolina, and 
conducted it through North and South Caro- 
lina to Richmond, Virginia, and from thence 
to Washington, where it took part in the 
grand review. From Washington the regi- 
ment was sent to Louisville, Kentucky, 
where it was mustered out of service. 

On returning home at the close of the 
war General Ege engaged in farming on the 
old farm, but in 1866 sold it and moved to 



412 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



another farm near Albany. Having been 
engaged in the reading of law for some time, 
in 1867 he was admitted to the bar and 
engaged in practice in connection with his 
other business. When the Albany Lumber 
Company was organized, he became its 
first president, and for four years served in 
in that capacity, when the company sold 
out. In 1866 he moved to the village of 
Albany and bu'lt the hall now used by the 
Masonic fraternity and known as Masonic 
hall. For many years he has been engaged 
in buying and shipping grain, and has paid 
out to the farmers in the vicinity as much 
as three thousand dollars in one day for 
grain. He was a partner in the first store 
erected in Albany after the great tornado, 
the firm being Haslett, Marcy & Co. 

In politics General Ege is an uncompro- 
mising Republican, and he has taken an 
active part in public life. For nine years 
he served his township as a member of the 
county board of supervisors, with credit to 
himself and constituents. Fraternally he is 
a charter member and past master of Albany 
lodge, No. 156, A. F. & A. M., which was 
organized at his residence. He is also a 
member of the chapter and commandery of 
the same order, and a charter member of 
the Ancient Order of United Workmen and 
Modern Woodmen of America. His interest 
in the Civil war is maintained by meeting 
with the veterans in Captain A. F. Knight 
post. No. 460, G. A. R., of which he is a 
member and past post commander. He is a 
member of the Presbyterian church in Al- 
bany, and for many years was one of the 
trustees of the church. The family is a 
cultured one and stand high in the social 
circles of Albany and Whiteside county. 
and is living retired in Albany, Illinois, 
awaiting the last bugle call. 



M' 



ARLOW CROSBY McKENZIE, a 
prominent citizen of Hume township, 
who is now living retired unpon his farm on 
section 28, has been a resident of this 
county since July, 1865, and by shrewd 
judgment, excellent management and fair 
dealings, has acquired a sufficient property 
to enable him to give up business cares and 
enjoy the result of his former labors. 

Mr. McKenzie was born in Essez county. 
New York, August 26, 1823, and is a son 
of William McKenzie, a native of the same 
place, and a grandson of Squire Bill Mc- 
Kenzie, a pioneer settler of that county, 
where he died at the age of forty-eight 
years. There the father grew to manhood 
and married Levisa Richmond, an aunt of 
George P. Richmond, whose sketch 
appears on another page of this volume.- 
\\'illiam McKenzie followed farming upon a 
part of the old homestead in Essex county 
until called from this life in 1841. His 
wife survived him for a time. They had 
five children, namely: William R., one of 
the early settlers of Whiteside county, Illi- 
nois, where he opened up a farm and spent 
his last days, dying here in 1890; 
Katherine, who married and settled in 
Ticonderoga, Essex county. New York, 
where her death occurred; Milton, now 
seventy-nine years of age, who owns and 
operates the old home farm; Marlow C, 
our subject; and Laura, who married 
George T. McKenzie and died in Cedar 
Rapids, Iowa. 

During his youth Marlow C. McKenzie 
was given rather limited school advantages, 
so that he is almost wholly self-educated. 
He remained with his father until the 
latter's death, and then, in 1842, came to 
Whiteside county, Illinois, where he worked 
on a farm for three years and a half. He 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



413 



then went to Wisconsin, where he worked 
in the pineries one season, and also in a 
sawmill. Subsequently he returned to 
Essex county, New York, where he was 
employed in a sawmill for a time, and later 
boated on the canal and lake one season, 
and then tended a lock for a time. In 
Cohoes, New York, he was married, in 
1849, to Miss Marian M. Haven, also a 
native of Essex county, and a daughter of 
George H. Haven. They began their 
domestic life on the Haven farm, which Mr. 
McKenzie operated for three years, and 
then, in 1852, they went to California by 
way of the Panama and Isthmus route. 
They took a steamer on the west coast and 
proceeded to San Francisco. Our subject 
engaged in mining and purchased an in- 
terest in mines. He also worked by the 
month in a livery stable, and later was in- 
terested in several different enterprises, all 
of which proved successful with the excep- 
tion of his mining ventures. After eight 
years spent on the Pacific coast he returned 
east in 1S60 by the same route. For two 
years he was engaged in the meat and 
butcher business in Port Henry, New York, 
and then sold out and again came to White- 
side county, Illinois, arriving here in July, 
1865. The following month he purchased 
a slightly improved place of fifty-six acres, 
and as there were no buildings upon it, he 
erected a house eighteen by twenty feet, 
and began to make further improvements. 
He has since enlarged his residence, has 
built a good barn and other outbuildings, 
and made many other improvements which 
add greatly to the value and attractive 
appearance of the place, which now com- 
prises one hundred and sixty acres under a 
high state of cultivation. 

Mr. McKenzie has been called upon to 



mourn the loss of his estimable wife, who 
(lied April 26, 1897, and was laid to rest in 
Prophetstown cemetery, where a near mon- 
ument has been erected to her memory. 
Their only daughter, Martha May, died at 
the age of eighteen years. In 1893 he and 
his wife returned to New York, and spent 
four months very enjoyably in visiting old 
friends and scenes. In 1898, he again spent 
a month in that state. He has practically 
lived retired from active labor since 1889, 
devoting his time to looking after and keep- 
ing up his place. 

Politically, Mr. McKenzie was an old- 
line Whig, later a Know Nothing and sup- 
ported Fillmore in 1856; in i860 he voted 
for Abraham Lincoln, and has since been a 
stanch supporter of the Republican party. 
He has taken quite an active interest in 
public affairs and has been elected to official 
positions of honor and trust, having served 
as highway commissioner, and a member of 
the county board of supervisors two years, 
during which time he was a member of the 
equalization and other committees. He 
was initiated into the mysteries of the Ma- 
sonic order while a resident of New York, 
and now belongs to Prophetstown lodge, F. 
& A. M., and also Prophetstown chapter, 
R. A. M. Wherever known he is held in 
high regard, and those who know him best 
are numbered among his warmest friends. 



JAMES SMACK. Among the energetic 
and enterprising farmers of Newton 
township who have met with success in 
their chosen calling is the subject of this 
review who owns and operates a good farm 
of eighty acres on section 5. He was born 
in Rochester, Monroe county. New York, 
June 14, 1837, a son of Edgar and Melinda 



414 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Smack, in whose family were five children, 
namely: George, deceased; William; James; 
John and Sarah. 

James Smack was reared and educated 
in his native state, and early became familiar 
with every department of farm work. In 
1857 he came to Whiteside county, Illinois, 
and took up his residence in Newton town- 
ship, but lived on several different farms 
before purchasing his present place on sec- 
tion 5. The well-tilled fields and neat and 
thrifty appearance of the farm plainly 
indicate his careful supervision and show 
conclusively that he thoroughly understands 
the occupation which he has chosen as a 
life work. In connection with general 
farming he is also engaged in stock-raising. 

Mr. Smack has been twice married, his 
first wife being Miss Sarah Early, by whom 
he had two daughters: Isadora, wife of 
Noah Nofke, and Isabel, at home. After 
the death of his first wife he wedded Miss 
Mary C. Davis, and by this union has one 
daughter, Effie M., wife of Joseph Steven- 
son. In his political views Mr. Smack is a 
stanch Democrat, and has most creditably 
and acceptably filled the offices of highway 
commissioner for ten years, and school 
director for twenty years. Socially he is a 
member of the Home Forum. 



JUDGE EDWIN G. ALLEN, an hon- 
ored old resident of Sterling, who is now 
living retired, was born in Brighton, Mon- 
roe county. New York, September 22, 1830, 
and is a son of Lemuel and Mary Ann 
(Armstrong) Allen. The father was a native 
of Vermont, as was also the grandfather, 
Lemuel Allen, Sr. , who was a soldier of the 
war of 1812, and after that conflict removed 
to Monroe county, New York, when Lemuel, 



Jr., was a small boy, becoming one of the 
pioneer farmers of that locality, where he 
spent the remainder of his life. There the 
son grew to manhood and married. He 
followed farming throughout life, became 
quite well-to-do, and supported first the 
Whig and later the Republican party. He 
died in 1SS3. at the age of eighty-four years; 
his wife in 1840, at the age of thirty-eight. 
She was born in England, but when only 
six weeks old was brought to this country 
by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Arm- 
strong, who settled in Pittsford, Monroe 
county. New York, at what is still known as 
Armstrong Hill. Our subject is the younger 
in a family of two children, the other being 
Lemuel. 

Edwin G. Allen obtained his primary 
education in the public schools of his native 
state, and later attended Madison Academy 
in Wayne county. New York. At the age 
of sixteen he commenced teaching school in 
that state, and during the five years he was 
thus employed he was the second teacher 
in the public schools of Monroe county to 
receive twenty dollars per month. He had 
learned the carpenter's trade, and during 
the summer months followed that occupa- 
tion, while he taught school during the 
winter. On attaining his majority he went 
to Ann Arbor, Michigan, taught the Car- 
penter Corners school, built their school- 
house and also engaged in mercantile busi- 
ness, remaining there for three years. At 
the end of that time he sold out his business 
and removed to Battle Creek, Michigan, 
where he clerked for T. B. Skinner & Com- 
pany for one year, and in 1855 came to 
Sterling, which was then a stirring and 
thriving little town, the railroad having just 
been completed a month before his arrival. 
In partnership with a Mr. Holmes, he 







^^^^^. 





E. G. ALLEN. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



417 



embarked in mercantile business, under the 
firm name of Allen & Holmes, where the 
Burial Case block now stands, but in De- 
cember, 1856, their store with all its con- 
tents, together with most of the town, was 
destroyed by fire. The following year he 
built the house now occupied by W. M. 
Dillon, on the corner of Broadway and 
Third street, for General E. N. Kirk, and in 
the fall of the same year bought the interest 
of Mr. Hoover in the firm of Feather & 
Hoover, and resumed general merchandising 
on Third street. His health failed, and the 
next spring he sold out and began the 
study of law with General E. N. Kirk and 
Frederick Sackett, at the same time doing 
most of the writing for them. He was ad- 
mitted to the bar by examination in 1861, 
and opened an office of his own. Soon 
afterward he was elected police magistrate, 
and most creditably filled that office for 
twelve years, doing a large amount of work. 
He also served as justice of the peace for 
twenty-nine years, and in the meantime 
filled the office of county judge for four 
years right after the Civil war in a most 
acceptable and satisfactory manner. While 
in office he built up a good general practice, 
making a specialty of office work, such as 
preparing cases, etc., but doing little as a 
trial lawyer. Ail through the war and a 
few years later he was also engaged in the 
real estate and loan business, and met with 
most excellent success in his business 
ventures. From March, 1864, until the 
following August, he was in the pay depart- 
ment with Major Henry at the front. Since 
1890 he has lived retired, having laid aside 
business cares to spend his remaining days 
in ease and quiet. 

On the 19th of March, 1856, Mr. Allen 
was united in marriage with Miss Lois L. 



Peck, who was born and reared in Ypsilan- 
ti, Michigan, a daughter of Joseph Peck. 
By this union two children were born, 
namely: Lemuel, who is now revising clerk 
for the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad at 
Milwaukee, married Daisy Hetfield, of Sterl- 
ing, and has one son, Lemuel H. Mary is 
the wife of William H. Randall, of Durand, 
Illinois, and has one sou, Edgar Allen. In 
1891 Mr. Allen bought a commodious and 
pleasant residence at the corner of Avenue 
D and Eighth street, where he and his wife 
now reside. He was a Republican in poli- 
tics until the Greenback movement, with 
which he has since been connected. So- 
cially, he is a member of Sterling lodge, No. 
612, F. & A. M.; Sterling chapter, R. A. M., 
of which he is past high priest; Dixon com- 
mandery, K. T. ; and Freeport consistory. 
He was the first chancellor commander of 
Corinthian lodge. No. 69, K. P., and for a 
number of years represented the local order 
in the Grand lodge. He is widely known 
and highly respected and has a host of warm 
friends in the community where he has so 
long made his home. 



HON. DANIEL RICHARDS, deceased, 
was one of the most distinguished of 
the citizens of Whiteside county, a man with 
not only a local, but a national reputation. 
He was born .April 5, 1821, in Orangeville, 
Wyoming county. New York, and was the son 
of Paul and Lois (Stone) Richards. They 
were the parents of a large family of chil- 
dren, all of whom are now deceased. Paul 
Richards was the first judge of the county 
court of Wyoming county, a man of more 
than ordinary ability, and for a time was a 
member of the Legislature of New York. 
Daniel Richards received a liberal edu- 



4iS 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



cation, and in his youth exhibited that zeal- 
ous interest in public affairs which ever 
characterized his life and made him more 
than an ordinary man wherever he lived. 
At an early age he took up teaching as a 
profession, following that occupation with 
success for some years. For a time, how- 
ever, he engaged in the mercantile trade at 
Orangeville, pushing the business with all 
his characteristic energy. In 1844 he was 
attracted to the great west and determined 
to see the country for himself. Accordingly 
he visited Illinois and spent the entire year 
in traveling over its broad prairies, but at 
the close of the season returned to his home 
in Orangeville, where for ten years he con- 
tinued to engage in the mercantile trade. 

On the 29th of August, 1850, Mr. Rich- 
ards was united in marriage with Miss 
Frances Barrett, also a native of Orange- 
ville, Wyoming county. New York, and 
daughter of Theodore S. and Caroline J. 
(Damon) Barrett, who came to Whiteside 
county in 1857, and here spent the remain- 
der of their lives. On first coming to the 
county they settled in Sterling, and a little 
later moved to a farm near Gait. While 
residing in New York, Theodore S. Barrett 
took a prominent part in public and official 
life, but after coming to Illinois he lived a 
more retired life. His death occurred at 
the home of Mrs. Richards in 1894, at the 
age of eighty-si-x years. His wife died in 
i860. They were the parents of four chil- 
dren: Frances is the wife of our subject. 
Theodore H. served with distinction during 
the Civil war and attained the rank of gen- 
eral. He commanded a regiment in the 
last battle of the war. He now resides at 
Herman, Minnesota. Lucia C. died at the 
age of fifteen years. Lorenzo M., who was 
born in Orangeville, New York, August 8, 



1836, died in Sterling at the home of Mrs. 
Richards, May 23, 1895. He was well 
known in Whiteside county, and was univer- 
sally esteemed. His education was com- 
pleted in the Genesee and Wyoming Sem- 
inary, a well known educational institution 
in western New York, which had among its 
professors Horace Briggs, LL. D., and 
Prof. Norman F. Wright, both men of the 
highest character as educators. In 1855 he 
came to Sterling, but returned to New York 
a few months later. After completing his 
education, he spent the summer of 1857 in 
what was then the territory of Minnesota, 
and in the fall of that year again came to 
Sterling, which was ever afterwards his 
home, until death came to his relief. For 
some years he was a teacher in the public 
schools, and at the time he was stricken 
with paralysis in 1865 he was principal of 
the first ward school. He was a brainy 
man and had high and lofty hopes, but for 
thirty years he carried his burdens un- 
complainingly until death came to his re- 
lief. 

In 1854 Mr. Richards made his second 
trip through the west looking for a loca- 
tion, finally deciding to cast his lot with the 
city of Sterling, and in 1S55 moved with 
his family to the place. Forming a partner- 
ship with Henry Garrettsee, he engaged in 
the hardware business, but they were in 
business but a short time when, in the fire 
of 1856, they were burned out. Wasting 
no time in lamentation, they at once opened 
up business in the Keystone block, and were 
soon in the midst of a good and profitable 
trade. 

The business energy of Mr. Richards, 
and his rigid integrity in all the relations of 
life, with the natural abilities that he pos- 
sessed to an extraordinary degree, soon at- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



419 



tracted the attention of his fellow citizens, 
and those who sought his counsel and so- 
ciety found in him a man of marked abil- 
ity and unswerving integrity of character. 
He was blessed with a keen sense of right, 
justice and honor, and clung to these with 
a tenacity of purpose that won for him a 
warm place in the heart and affections of 
all good people. He had a strong mind, 
great force of character and energy of pur- 
pose that made him a leader in the Repub- 
lican party in city, county and state. He 
ably represented Sterling in the board of 
supervisors of the county, and served with 
honor and distinction for many years. 

In i860 Mr, Richards entered heartily 
into the memorable campaign that resulted 
in the election of Abraham Lincoln as pres- 
ident, and made many able speeches in 
favor of freedom and a free country. He 
was- a fine speaker, pleasing in address, 
forcible in his arguments, and always had 
ideas that were new and original and con- 
vincing. So rapidly did he secure the con- 
fidence and esteem of the people that in 
1862 he was nominated by the Republican 
party for the ofifice of state senator in the 
district comprising the counties of Lee, 
Ogle and Whiteside, and was unanimously 
elected, the opposing party not considering 
it worth while to put up a candidate against 
him. 

Soon after his election, Mr. Richards 
sold out his hardware business and gave his 
entire time, energy and ability to his con- 
stituents. The Legislature of Illinois in the 
winter of 1862-63, was one of the most 
memorable ones in the history of the state. 
The party opposed to the prosecution of the 
war was in the majority, and they favored 
extreme measures for stopping its progress. 
The ablest men in the state in both parties 



were in the Legislature, and that memorable 
session, brought to such an unexpected 
termination by being prorogued by Gov- 
ernor Yates, will stand as being one of the 
most remarkable in the history of the state. 
It was during that session that Mr. Richards' 
remarkable tact and great ability as a ready 
thinker and able debater and legislator 
shown out and made him a leader in the 
senate. He won a high and commanding 
position among the prominent men of the 
state, and exerted great influence for good 
among all parties. His ability and unswerv- 
ing integrity attracted the attention of 
President Lincoln, and it is said that the 
name of Daniel Richards was a sufficient 
endorsement for any favor that he could 
bestow. 

At the close of the session of the Legis- 
lature, Mr. Richards entered the law office 
of Honorable Perkins Bass, of Chicago, be- 
came a close student, and was later admitted 
to the bar after a most creditable examina- 
tion. In the death of President Lincoln he 
lost a valued friend who only waited a 
favorable opportunity to tender him a suit- 
able reward for his fidelity to his state and 
country in a trying time. Through the 
efforts of Honorable E. B. Washburn, 
afterwards minister to France, President 
Johnson tendered him the position of tax 
commissioner for the state of Florida. 
Personally he did not desire this position, 
but was urged to take it as it was very de- 
sirable that some true, tried and honest 
man should assume the duties at once, inas- 
much as the other two commissioners were 
of the opposite part}'. He yielded to the 
urgency of the occasion and started at once 
for Fernandina, Florida. He was made 
president of the board, a position he occu- 
pied until the office expired by limitation. 



420 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Florida was about calling a convention 
to frame a new constitution, preparatory to 
being re-admitted to the Union. The issue 
was clear and marked between the regular 
Republican party and the followers of 
Andrew Johnson. Mr. Richards was ap- 
pealed to by the colored people and mem- 
bers of the Republican party to espouse 
their cause and canvass the state. True to 
the noble instincts of his nature, he could 
not stand idle and see the oppressor's heel 
placed upon the colored men of the state. 
With his whole heart and soul he entered 
the contest and made the canvass of the 
state for the oppressed and down trodden 
ones. He was elected a member of the 
convention, his party was victorious, and as 
a reward for his faithful labors, he was 
elected president of the convention. The 
party opposed to him in the convention 
proposed to make every office in the state, 
except members of the Legislature, to be 
appointed by the governor and removable 
at his pleasure. To this outrage upon a 
free people, the whole nature of Mr. Rich- 
ards revolted, and he utterly refused to 
countenance it. This created a division, 
and the result was a bolt in the convention. 
Two constitutions were framed and sub- 
mitted to Congress for acceptance, and that 
body admitted Florida under the bolters' 
constitution, to the exclusion of as good a 
constitution as any set of men ever framed 
for a free people to live under. 

Those who knew Mr. Richards best can 
truthfully testify that it was a part of his na- 
ture to hate wrong and oppression, no mat- 
ter from what source it came. With the 
success of that great outrage upon the peo- 
ple of the state, died within him all hope of 
peace, happiness and prosperity for the peo- 
ple, and he resolved to free himself from all 



responsibility, and from that moment he re- 
tired from political life, and worn out in 
body and mind, and wondering, as he often 
expressed it in view of the triumph of dis- 
honesty and wrong, "if God was just." 
Fearing his power and influence still, he was 
approached by the successful party to know 
if he would accept a position as one of the 
judges of the supreme court of the state. 
True to his nature and teachings, he in- 
dignantly spurned the offer, and from that 
time on he gave his time and attention to 
the practice of law, and ranked as one of 
the ablest men in the state, and "Judge 
Richards," as he was called there, will ever 
be remembered by the good men of Florida 
as one of her ablest, most honest and up- 
right citizens. 

When Governor Reed was impeached 
and on trial he sent a special train forjudge 
Richards to come and defend him, saying 
to him, " You are the only man in the state 
that can save me." Under his able and 
skillful management the governor was 
cleared. Being of a delicate constitution, 
inherited from a family of whom none are 
now living, his constant and incessant 
labors, aided by the climate, soon sowed 
seeds of a disease that terminated his life. 
For more than a year it preyed upon him, 
gaining power over his shattered constitu- 
tion daily, until he was completel}' pros- 
trated. As soon as he gained sufficient 
strength he returned to his home in Sterl- 
ing, and at first the change seemed to be 
beneficial, and it was hoped that he might 
recover, but it was not to be. Gradually he 
became weaker and suffered most extremely, 
but patiently and resignedly he awaited the 
hour of dissolution. Finally a sleepy stupor 
came on. Peacefully he slept, and peace- 
fully he passed away on the 2 ist of January, 



IriE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



4it 



1872. Thus passed from view a good hus- 
band, an affectionate parent, an honored 
citizen, and above all, an honest man. 

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Richards 
are Ella G., a fine musician and vocalist, 
who makes her home with her mother; 
Carrie, wife of J. F. Utley, of Sterling; and 
Grace F. , wife of Charles li. Windom, a 
nephew of Ex-Secretary Windom, and who 
is engaged in the furniture business in Sterl- 
ing. Since the death of Mr. Richards the 
family have resided at their old home, No. 
604 Fourth avenue, honored and respected 
by all. 



SAMUEL ALBERTSON. Illinois owes 
its high standing among the sovereign 
commonwealths that make up the United 
States to the high character and dauntless 
spirit of the settlers who made their home 
within her borders in early days. To their 
inspiration and work is due her wonderful 
progress in agriculture, manufacturing and 
the arts. They opened the mines, trans- 
formed the wilderness into fertile farms; es- 
tablished churches and schools in the sav- 
age wilds, laying the foundations for the 
grand institutions of philanthropy and learn- 
ing which are the glory of the state at the 
present day. Among these brave and far- 
sighted pioneers was Samuel Albertson, 
who is now, after a long and bus}' life, liv- 
ing retired upon his farm on section 14, 
Sterling township, Whiteside county. 

He was born in Clinton, Dutchess coun- 
ty, New York, January 18, 1 8 1 8, a son of Jo- 
seph and Elizabeth (Ham) Albertson, also 
natives of that county, where they contin- 
ued to make their home until 1832, when 
they removed to western New York, settling 
in the town of Mendon, Monroe countj'. 



There their son Frederick had located as 
early as 1820. The family made most of 
the journey to Monroe county by canal. 
There the father purchased land and made 
his home throughout the remainder of his 
life. He was a successful and progressive 
agriculturist and was a prominent member 
of the Society of Friends, for which he 
preached for many years. 

Our subject is the twelfth in order of 
birth in a family of thirteen children and 
the only one now living, though ten reached 
years of maturity. He well remembers 
hearing his father tell of the hard winter of 
1774, when the snow did not melt for over 
six weeks. He acquired the greater part of 
his education in his native county, but at- 
tended school for two terms after the re- 
moval of the family to Monroe county. New 
York. He then assisted his father in the 
operation of the home farm until his mar- 
riage. 

On the 5th of November, 1839, Mr. 
Albertson married Miss Hannah De Garmo, 
who was born in Ulster county, New York, 
July 6, iSig, a daughter of Elias and 
Clemma (Powell) De Garmo, both natives 
of Dutchess county. New York, and the 
former of French descent. The father was 
a tanner by trade, as was also his father, 
and he followed that occupation for many 
years, but after his removal to Monroe 
county, New York, in 1833, he purchased 
land and turned his attention to farming. 
There he continued to make his home until 
called from this life. By his first marriage 
he had eight children, all of whom reached 
man and womanhood, Mrs. Albertson being 
the fifth in order of birth. She has two 
brothers still living, Rnfus and Peter De 
Garmo, retired citizens of Oswego, Labette 
county, Kansas. Her father was again 



422 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



married and by the second union had two 
children, who are now residents of Rochester, 
New York. To Mr. and Mrs. Albertson 
were born three children, namely: (i) 
Harriet is the wife of Owen N. Hurst, a 
farmer of Furnace county, Nebraska, and 
they had two children: Frank, deceased; 
and Annie, who is now the wife of Charles 
Kerr, of Nebraska, and has four children. 
(2) Arthur died July 6, 1868, at the age of 
twenty-four years, as the result of an acci- 
dent. He was unmarried and at home at 
the time of his death. (3) Ella married 
John E. Woodyatt and died August 22, 
1879. They had three children, Arthur, 
Grace and Lulu. Grace now makes her 
home with our subject and his wife. 

After his marriage, Mr. Albertson re- 
mained in Monroe county. New York, until 
September, 1841, when he and his wife 
came by way of the lakes to Chicago, which 
at that time was little better than a mud 
hole. His brothers, Isaac and John, had 
come to this county, in 1835, and had two 
of their friends to meet our subject and his 
wife in Chicago. They remained in that 
city one night, just long enough to get their 
goods off the boat, and then started for 
Whiteside county in a prairie schooner, pay- 
ing one dollar per hundred to have their 
freight transferred and one dollar a piece as 
their fare. They were three days and a half in 
making the trip. On arriving here, Mr. 
Albertson had a claim already taken up 
from the government, which was being held 
by his brothers. This consisted of eighty 
acres of prairie land on section 14, Sterling 
township, and eight acres of timber land, 
with no improvements upon it. He lived 
the first winter with his brother, but began 
immediately to split rails for fences and to 
cut logs for his cabin, which was erected the 



following spring. He had only twenty-five 
cents remaining after the completion of his 
home and that was spent for sugar to be 
used in the medicine for his sick child. On 
leaving the east he had enough money to 
enter his land and bring with him two two- 
year-old steers and two two-year-old heifers. 
The first year spent here proved a hard one 
for this pioneer family. Mr. Albertson 
made all the bottoms for his chairs, while he 
traded for the frames, and he also made his 
own bedstead and also a cupboard out of 
dry-goods bo.xes which he had brought with 
him. Wild game at that time was plentiful 
and furnished the family with most of their 
meat. Sterling at that time was two towns, 
known as Chatham and Harrisburg, and 
their combined population was only about 
two hundred. 

Selling his first farm in 1850, Mr. Albert- 
son purchased his present place of one hun- 
dred and sixty acres from his brother, and 
for many years was actively and success- 
fully engaged in general farming. From 
1885 to 1898 he rented his land and lived 
at the mineral springs, where he built houses, 
baths, barns and a pavilion, and had entire 
charge of the place until July, 1898, when 
he sold out to Hiram L. Edmunds, who 
conducted it in connection with his brother 
for a few months, at the end of which time 
John H. Ahrens also became interested in 
the enterprise. They got up subscriptions 
and secured a charter, forming what is now 
known as the Sterling Fair Association. In 
the fall of 1S98 Mr. Albertson returned to 
his farm on section 14, Sterling township, 
where he and his wife are now living re- 
tired. Although past eighty years of age 
they still enjoy excellent health and look 
many years younger, Mrs. Albertson still 
having a complexion as fair as a girl's. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



42j 



Their home life is ideal, and they are loved 
and respected by all who know them. By 
birthright they are Quakers, but are now 
Spiritualists in religious belief, while in pol- 
itics Mr. Albertson is independent. In 
early life he was a Democrat until a few 
years prior to the Civil war, when he joined 
the Republican party on account of the 
slavery question, and remained one of its 
supporters until 1873, since when he votes 
independent. As one of the honored pio- 
neers and representative citizens of the 
county, he is certainly entitled to honorable 
mention in its history and this brief account 
of his life will be read with interest by his 
many friends. 



DAVID G. PROCTOR, one of the hon- 
ored pioneer citizens of Whiteside 
county, and now living in Genesee town- 
ship, is a son of George R. and Mary 
(Green) Proctor, the former a native of 
Kentucky. The Greens were of Irish extrac- 
tion, and were early settlers in Pennsylva- 
nia, while the Proctors located in^ Virginia 
in colonial days. 

The brothers and sisters of our subject 
were eight in number. Sarah B., the eld- 
est, married William Mo.xley, and had one 
child, who is deceased. Mr. Mo.xley died in 
1863, and his wife in [867. Margaret J. 
Proctor marriedL. S. Crouch, of Lee coun- 
ty, at the age of nineteen years, and a 
Illinois, and they have two daughters 
son. Mellissa E. died, unmarried, Mary 
A. is the wife of William H. Brewer, of 
Monroe county, Mississippi, and they 
have two children. The next child died in 
infancy, and George R. died at the age of 
two years. Harriet N. became the wife of 
Andrew J. Hurless, of Carroll county, and 



has two children. Eliza married Clinton 
Manning, of Genesee township, and they 
are the parents of two children. 

David G. Proctor was born in 1840, in 
Lawrence county, Indiana, and continued 
to reside there until he was fifteen years of 
age. His father having died in Genesee 
township in 1855, the young man, who was 
the eldest son, and was well trained as a 
farmer, proceeded to be his widowed moth- 
er's mainstay, and the supporter of his 
numerous brothers and sisters. He rented 
land in Genesee township for several years. 
In 1893 he purchased the sixty-acre farm 
which had been occupied by his mother, in 
this township, and which, by her death, in 
the year mentioned, was left to the heirs. 
Mr. Proctor has been very successful as a 
farmer, and has made many substantial 
improvements upon his fine homestead, 
which now comprises one hundred and 
forty-seven acres. 

For a helpmate along life's journey, 
David G. Proctor chose Sarah Ann Hurless, 
a daughter of Cephus and Elizabeth (Over- 
holser) Hurless. She was born in Ohio, 
and her marriage to Mr. Proctor took place 
in 1865. On the paternal side, she comes 
of old Virginia ancestry, while on the mater- 
nal line, she is of German descent. Martin 
Overholser, the grandfather of Mrs. Proc- 
tor, now ninety-one years old, and a resi- 
dent of Coleta, is hale and hearty, not- 
withstanding his advanced age. He has 
many living descendants, as may be seen 
from the following: he has eight children, 
eighty-nine grandchildren, forty-six great- 
grandchildren, and seven great-great-grand- 
children — a total of one hundred and 
fift}'. Dr. Proctor's infant son, David, is 
of the fifth generation living to-day in Gen- 
esee township. Cephus and Elizabeth Hur- 



424 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



less were the parents of six children, of 
whom Adeline and another died in infancy; 
Susanna became the wife of H. C. Mc- 
Cray, of Carroij county, Illinois, and has 
two sons; Rebecca J. married Joseph Bush- 
man, of this township, and they have three 
children ; and George P. , of Pocohontas coun- 
ty, Iowa, married Carrie Wells, and has 
two daughters. After the death of his first 
wife, Cephus Hurless married Tabitha Win- 
ters, and had eight children by that union. 
Five of the number died in infancy, and 
three survive, namely: William, Belle and 
Roy. William, who wedded Annie Cona- 
way, and has two children, resides in Gen- 
esee township. Belle became the wife of 
Miles Wallace, of Carroll county, and 
they have three children. Roy, who is un- 
married, is engaged in teaching school, and 
lives in Coleta. 

Seven children blessed the union of 
David G. Proctor and wife. Cephus E., a 
farmer of Clyde township, Whiteside coun- 
ty, married Bertha Daniels. George R. , 
a practicing physician, whose sketch is 
printed elsewhere in this work, is a leading 
citizen of Coleta. Minnie J. is the wife of 
Mathias Spang, Jr., who carries on a farm 
situated half a mile east of Coleta. The 
young couple have one child. Ira R. and 
Richard G., unmarried, live at home and 
assist their father in the management of the 
farm. Elizabeth also lives with her parents. 
The youngest of the family, a boy, died in 
infancy. 

In all local affairs, Mr. Proctor has 
been active and interested. He has never 
been an aspirant to political office, but has 
served as a ta.x collector in his township. 
In national politics, he sides with the Dem- 
ocratic party. His wife is a member of 
the United Brethren church, and he is lib- 



eral and broad-minded in his religious 
views. The entire community, in which 
he has so long dwelt, esteems him highly, 
looking upon him as a representative of the 
sterling pioneer element, who founded this 
county. 



SAMUEL A. THOMPSON, who is liv- 
ing a retired life in the city of Erie, 
was for many years one of the most active 
and enterprising farmers of Whiteside coun- 
ty, where he has been living for the past 
forty-three years. He was born in Meigs 
county, Ohio, July 29, 1823, and is the son 
of Reuben and Philinda Thompson, both of 
whom were natives of Vermont. They had 
a family of four children. The mother dy- 
ing when our subject was but a child, he 
was taken and reared by William Davis, 
with whom he remained until he w^s twenty 
years old. He then learned the carpenter's 
trade at which he worked for some years, 
two years of which time serving as a ship 
carpenter on the Mississippi river, the boat 
running between New Orleans and Memphis. 

In 1850 Mr. Thompson made a visit, to 
Whiteside county, at which time he pur- 
chased one hundred and sixty acres of land 
in Fenton township. In 1856 he came to 
the county and took up his permanent resi- 
dence on the land and commenced its im- 
provement. He became a very successful 
farmer, and from time to time added to the 
area of his land until he was the owner of 
seven hundred and fifty acres. While act- 
ively engaged in farming, he made a spec- 
ialty of stock raising, and was an acknowl- 
edged authority in the value of stock. 

On the 28th of April, 1858, Mr. Thomp- 
son was united in marriage with Mrs. 
Elizabeth Bull, widow of Elijah Bull, and 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



42 § 



who was a native of the state of Vermont, 
and born March 22, 1828. Hy this union 
there were born two children: Jennie M., 
born December 19, 1858, now the wife of 
James Carr, of Omaha, Nebraska; and 
Reuben A., born February 25, 1869, and 
now residing in Fenton township. He has 
been twice married, his first union being 
with Miss Anna Casenston, who died five 
months after their union was solemnized. 
He later married Miss Nora McMurphy. By 
her former marriage, Mrs. S. A. Thompson 
had one son, George E., born April 5, 
1856. Ife was adopted by Mr. Thompson, 
grew to manhood and married Miss Nellie 
Eddy, and they reside in Fenton township. 
Mrs. Thompson died March 13, 1890. 
She was a devoted member of the Christian 
church and died in the full assurance 
of faith, being greatly lamented by all who 
knew her. 

Mr. Thompson was married the second 
time, his second union being with Afiss 
Juliet Campbell, the date of the marriage 
being May 13, 1894. She is the daughter 
'of Harrison and Julia A. Campbell, and is 
a native of Ohio, born April 5, 1845. She 
resided in her native state until her mar- 
riage with Mr. Thompson, since which time 
she has made her home in Erie, Illinois. 
Her father was a farmer in Ohio. He mar- 
ried Julia A. Kent, a native of Vermont, and 
to them were born nine children. Warren 
died at about the age of twenty years. 
Caroline married Franklin Keck, and they 
reside in Ohio. James B. married Eliza- 
beth Entsler, and they yet live in Ohio. 
Mary D. married William H. Carr, and 
they yet reside in the Buckeye state. 
Martha also resides in Ohio. Juliet C. is 
the wife of our subject. Emma E. resides 
in Ohio. William H. has been twice mar- 

24 



ried, his second wife being a Miss Charity 
Foster. They also reside in Ohio. Lucinda 
married Harvey Tripp, and their home is in 
Ohio. Mr. H. Campbell died in Ohio, 
February 20, 1891. His wife is yet living 
in Ohio at the ripe old age of eighty-three 
years. 

For some years Mr. Thompson has been 
in ill health, in consequence of which he 
divided much of his property among his 
children and moved to the city of Erie in 
1894, since which time he has been living a 
retired life. He is a member of the 
Christian church at Erie, as is also his wife. 
The large bell in use by that church was a 
present by Mr. and Mrs. Thompson, and 
cost about one hundred and fifty-five dollars. 
Few men are better known in the western 
part of the county than Mr. Thompson, and 
while his wife has not been long a resident 
of the place, she has made many friends and 
both are held in the highest esteem. 



H 



ENI\Y S. LAN,DIS, whose farm is on 
sections 14 and 23, Sterling township, 
has been identified with the agricultural in- 
terests of Whiteside county, for almost half a 
century. He was born in Lancaster county, 
Pennsylvania, March 17, 1820, a son of Dan- 
iel "and Margaret (Shafer) Landis, also natives 
of the Iveystone state. The father, who was 
a teamster and later an innkeeper in Penn- 
sylvania, died when our subject was only 
four years old. In his family were five 
children, Eliza, Emanuel, Maria, Henry S. 
and Annie, all of whom are now deceased 
with the exception of Henry S. 

After the death of his father our subject 
was bound out until fifteen years of age, 
and then worked for wages as a farm hand. 
His education was acquired in the schools 



426 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



of his native county. In 1841, he married 
Miss Fannie Stauffer, who was born in Lan- 
caster county, November 13, 1820, a daugh- 
ter of John and Margaret (Ebee) Landis, 
also natives of Pennsylvania. In early life 
her father was a farmer and later followed 
the miller's trade. He had nine children, 
Benjamin, Fannie, Peter, Christ, Mar- 
garet, John, Annie, Barbara, and one who 
died joung. With the exception of Mrs. 
Landis, all of this family remained in the 
east. To our subject and his wife were 
born thirteen children, namely: Annie, 
Barbara, Margaret, Susanna, Amos, Maria, 
John, Henry, Emma, Emanuel, Fremont, 
Reuben and Daniel, all of whom are still 
living with the exception of Daniel, who 
died in infancy. 

In 185 1, Mr. Landis, accompanied by 
his wife and four children, came west by 
way of the Great Lakes to Chicago, which 
at that time was a small town, and by 
stage proceeded to Dixon. They finally 
reached Sterling after two days spent upon 
the road. After a few days spent in that 
town, Mr. Landis purchased a farm of one 
hundred and forty-seven acres from John 
Albertson, a part of which had been fenced 
and a barn erected thereon. He com- 
menced immediately to operate his farm, 
but lived in town until fall, when he moved 
into a log cabin upon his place, into which 
the snakes would often crawl. To the 
further improvement and cultivation of this 
farm he has since devoted his energies, and 
still owns all of the original tract with the 
exception of three acres and a half, which 
he sold to the fair association. He has 
had no specialty but has always engaged in 
general farming. Politically he is identified 
with the Republican party, and served as 
school director for many years. His wife 



is a member of the Menonite church and 
both are held in high regard on account of 
their sterling worth and many excel- 
lencies of character. 



JACOB Y. LEHMAN, D. V. S., a suc- 
»J cessful veterinary surgeon of Sterling, 
Illinois, was born in Columbiana, Colum- 
biana county, Ohio, August 22, 1844, and 
is a son of Jacob H. and Mary (Yoder) 
Lehman, both natives of Pennsylvania. The 
father, who was a farmer by occupation, 
died in Ohio in 1873, at the age of sixty-five 
years. In his family were fifteen children, 
thirteen of whom are still living, but our 
subject is the only one residing in Illinois. 
His boyhood and youth were passed upon a 
farm in Ohio, and he was educated in the 
common and high schools of that state. 

When twenty years of age, Mr. Leh- 
man went to Indiana, where some of his 
brothers and sisters had located, and while 
there continued the study of veterinary sur- 
gery which he had commenced in his native 
state. Later he engaged in practice with 
an old veterinary surgeon, and still later was 
associated with an Englishman of that pro- 
fession. Dr. J. D. Selden, being engaged in 
practice and traveling with him for some 
time. In 1866 he came to Sterling, where 
he followed his chosen profession 
until the fall of 1883, when he entered 
the Chicago Veterinary College, which 
had just been established and was one 
of the eight students during the first term. 
After completing the prescribed course and 
receiving his degree, he returned to Ster- 
ling and resumed practice. He is now one 
of the oldest and best qualified practitioners 
in the county, his practice extending over a 
period of thirty-five years, during which 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



427 



time he has given his entire attention to his 
profession and built np a large and paying 
practice. 

On the 26th of May, 1S73, Dr. Lehman 
married Miss Harriet A. Baker, a native of 
Geneva, Illinois, and a daughter of John R. 
and Harriet A. (Foote) Baker. Her father 
was one of the pioneers of Kane county, 
this state, and is now living in Loup City, 
Nebraska, and a hale and hearty old gentle- 
man of eighty-eight years. To the Doctor 
and his wife were born four children, of 
which Charles E. died in infancy; Carl C. is 
now a stenographer in the First National 
Bank of Chicago; Olive L. is bookkeeper 
and cashier in Fernburg's store of Sterling; 
and Harriet A. is still attending school. 
Both the Doctor and his wife are members 
of the Congregational church. In politics 
he is a Republican. The family is well 
known and highly respected. 



JOSHUA L. HARRISON is a young and 
enterprising farmer residing on section 
3, Hopkins township, where he owns and 
operates a farm of one hundred and three 
acres of well improved land. He was born 
in Genesee township, Whiteside county, 
Illinois, October 2, 1869, and is the son of 
James H. and Julia A. (Fitzgerald) Harrison, 
the former also a native of Genesee town- 
ship, born in 1842, and the latter a native 
of Illinois but of Irish descent, whose par- 
ents, Patrick and Mary (Barry) Fitzgerald, 
were born in Ireland in 1805 and 1803, re- 
spectively, and who were married in their 
native country, after which they immedi- 
ately emigrated to America, where all their 
children were born. Their children were 
as follows: Michael B. is a contractor and 
builder, and also a manufacturer of brick. 



He married Catherine McCarty, and they 
reside in Sterling. William H. was by 
trade a painter. He went west, married 
Miss Thorpe, but returned to Whiteside 
county in 1886, and died on the home farm 
in Genesee township. Mary A. married 
David Bryson, and they are the parents of 
three children. Their home is in Sioux 
("ity, Iowa, where he is engaged in the real 
estate business. James M. and I-211en are 
twins. The former married Mary McCarty, 
and they have one child. He is a partner 
with his brother in the manufacture of brick, 
and the family resides in Sterling. Ellen 
married Charles Galbraith, and they have 
three children. Their home is in Crawford 
county, Iowa, where Mr. Galbraith is en- 
gaged in the real estate business. Richard 
P. married Lizzie Wilton and they have 
one child. They reside in Garwin, Iowa, 
where he is engaged in the practice of law. 
John C. is a retired farmer and real estate 
dealer. He is married and has three chil- 
dren. They also reside in Garwin, Iowa. 
Julia A. is the mother of our subject. 
Frances married John D. Moore, by whom 
she has five children. Their home is in 
Rock Falls, Illinois. Thomas E. is a bridge 
contractor and resides in Chicago. One 
child died in infancy. 

The paternal grandfather of our subject 
was born in Yorkshire, England, and in 
1832 came to the United States, making 
his way direct to Chicago, Illinois, where 
he bought one hundred and si.xty acres of 
government land, which he afterwards trad- 
ed for some lots in Fulton, Illinois. He 
later located in Sterling, where he was em- 
ploj'ed for a time by Mr. Brink, after which 
he purchased some government land and 
opened up the farm where his son, James 
H., now resides. He married Mary Taylor, 



428 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



a southern lady, who was probably born in 
North Carolina. His death occurred in 
1876, while his wife survived him some 
years, dying in September, 1885. Their 
family consisted of four children. Alice 
married Jerry Pittinan, and they are the 
parents of eight children. Their home is 
in Greene county, Iowa. James H, is the 
father of our subject. Sarah H. married 
James Lynch, and they reside on the home 
place in Genesee township. Seven chil- 
dren blessed their union. Joseph E. mar- 
ried Margaret Pugh, and they have si.\ chil- 
dren. They also live in Genesee township. 

James H. Harrison grew to manhood on 
his father's farm in Genesee township, and 
was educated in its common schools. He 
continued at home, assisting in the farm 
work, until near the close of the Civil war, 
when he enlisted in Company G, One Hun- 
dred and Fifty-sixth Illinois Volunteer In- 
fantry, and served for eleven months, or until 
the close of the war. His uncle, William 
H. Fitzgerald, who first served three years 
in the United States navy, was also a mem- 
ber of that company and regiment, serving 
as orderly sergeant. Three other uncles, 
Richard V., John C. and James M. Fitz- 
gerald, also served in the Union army in 
the Civil war. Returning from the service, 
on the 30th of September, 1865, he was 
united in marriage with Miss Julia A. Fitz- 
gerald, by which union four children were 
born, one of whom, Francis H., died when 
one year old, and one died in infancy. 
William H., born September 4, 1867, mar- 
ried Lizzie A. Deets, February 16, 1889. 
They have two children, and live in Genesee 
township. Joshua L. is the subject of this 
sketch. 

Joshua L. Harrison, of whom we now 
write, spent his boyhood and youth on the 



farm in Genesee township. He obtained a 
good common-school education, and is now 
a practical business man of affairs. He 
was married December 16, 1891, to Miss 
Nellie J. Deets, also a native of Genesee 
township, born July 26, 1872. Her father, 
William Deets, was born in Germany, and 
in his youth came to America, first locating 
in Dayton, Ohio, where he married Cath- 
erine Overholzer. They later came to 
Whiteside countj-, Illinois, locating in Gen- 
esee township, where he became a wealth}' 
and prosperous farmer, operating at one 
time about twelve hundred acres of fine 
farming lands. He is now living a retired 
life in Sterling, Illinois. His wife is a native 
of Ohio, of German descent. They are the 
parents of eleven children, of whom Nellie 
is fourth in order of birth. 

After his marriage Mr. Harrison operated 
his father's farm in Genesee township for 
one year, together with forty acres of his 
own land. He then purchased the farm 
where he now resides, which he has under 
excellent improvement, it being one of the 
best farms in the vicinity. He also has one 
of the best stone quarries in Whiteside 
county, and has no trouble in disposing of 
the entire output of the quarry each year. 
He is doing a good business both in his 
quarry and on his farm, and in his farming 
operations he devotes himself to mixed 
farming. 

Fraternally, Mr. Harrison is a member 
of camp No. 3994, M. W. A., of Emerson, 
and of garrison No. 160, K. G. In relig- 
ion he is not a member of any church, but 
his mother and other members of the family 
are members of the Christian church. In 
politics he is a Republican, and has served 
his township for one term of three years as 
road commissioner, and is now serving as 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



429 



school trustee. In July, 1899, he enlisted 
in the Si.xth Regiment Band, being a musi- 
cian of undoubted ability, having served as 
instructor in a band in his neighborhood for 
seven years. Yet young, he has good pros- 
pects before him. 



c 



APTAIN WILLIAM PARKER. One 
of the prominent representatives of the 
journalistic profession is the gentleman 
whose name heads this brief notice, the 
well-known editor of the Rock Falls News, 
of Rock Falls, Illinois. He was born in 
Majsville, Kentucky, November 6, 1835, a 
son of William and Sarah (Ruggles) Parker. 
His paternal grandfather was a native of 
Virginia, and went down the Ohio river to 
Kentucky at an early period in the settle- 
ment of that state. The Captain's father 
was a pioneer merchant and trader of Mays- 
ville, and was also engaged in steamboating 
on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. He 
served one term as sheriff of Brown county, 
Ohio, and died in Ripley, that state, in 
October, 1884. 

In his native city Captain Parker passed 
his boj'hood and there he received his early 
education in the Rand & Richardson Sem- 
inary. Going to Ripley, Ohio, at the age 
of fifteen years, he secured employment in 
the office of the Ripley Bee, where he re- 
mained three years, acquiring the trade of a 
compositor. He next went to Cincinnati, 
where he worked in the Enquirer job print- 
ing house for two years. He was now 
twenty years of age and well prepared to 
fight the battle of life for himself. Coming 
to Salem, Illinois, he vigorously conducted 
the Salem Register as the champion of Gen- 
eral Fremont during that noted political 
campaign, and subsequently he located at 



Centralia, where he published The Cen- 
tralian. 

At the outbreak of the Civil war. Cap- 
tain Parker was the manager of the Dixon 
Telegraph, at Dixon, Illinois, of which 
Isaac Boardman was owner. He entered 
the military service at that place, as second 
lieutenant of Company A, Seventy-fifth Illi- 
nois \'olunteer Infantry, September 20, 
1862; was promoted to first lieutenant on 
the 20th of December, that year, and to 
captain, March 23, 1863. His regiment 
was temporarily stationed at Dixon, which 
left that place September 27, 1862, and 
proceeded to Jeffersonville, Indiana, cross- 
ing the Ohio river into Kentucky the last 
day of that month. With his command he 
took part in the battle of Perryville, and led 
his company in the battle of Murfreesboro. 
After the battle of Chickamauga, in which, 
however, his regiment was not heavily en- 
gaged, a re-organization was effected, by 
which it was assigned to the Fourth Army 
Corps, Third Brigade, First Division, .\rmy 
of the Cumberland, at that time under the 
command of General Howard. During the 
siege of Chattanooga this command per- 
formed very effective service. Captain 
Parker was in the thickest of the fight, in 
scaling Lookout Mountain under General 
Hooker, during the greater part of the first 
day, and on the day following he partici- 
pated in the battle of Missionary Ridge, 
capturing a large number of prisoners and 
the train of the enemy's headquarters. An 
interesting incident of this battle was the 
surrender to Captain Parker of the son of 
General Breckenridge. His command was 
finally discharged at Chicago, July i, 1865. 

Captain Parker then returned to his old 
home in Dixon, but subsequently removed 
to Ottawa and purchased a half-interest in 



430 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



the Ottawa Republican. He remained 
there about two years and then disposed of 
his interest in the paper and purchased the 
\\'enona Inde.x, which he conducted until 
1870. While at Wenona he served as post- 
master for three years, being appointed dur- 
ing President Johnson's administration. In 
1870 he purchased the Amboy Journal, 
which he conducted for two years, and then 
went to Kansas, where he was interested in 
various newspaper enterprises until 1876. 
During that year he returned to Illinois and 
located in Mendota, where he engaged in 
newspaper work until coming to Rock Falls 
in 1883. He established the Rock Falls 
News, a weekly journal, which he has since 
conducted with marked success, his son-in- 
law, Charles L. Mentzer, being associated 
with him in business at the present time. 
Fraternally he is a Royal Arch Mason, and 
is a charter member of Will Enderton post. 
No. 729, G. A. R., of Rock Falls, of which 
he is past commander. The Captain is a 
public-spirited and progressive citizen, who 
has manifested the same loyalty in days of 
peace as when he followed the old flag to 
victory on southern battle fields. 

At Salem, Illinois, Captain Parker was 
married, June 18, 1857, to Miss Ella B. 
Bond, a daughter of Enoch and Jane (Sar- 
gent) Bond, originally from Ohio. Three 
children were born of this union, namely: 
Jennie W. , who married W. M. Geddes, of 
Nebraska, and died in 1883, leaving one 
son; Anna F. , now the wife of C. L. Ment- 
zer; and E. Bond, who was accidentally 
killed by a railway locomotive in 1882. 
Ella B. Parker died on the iith of May, 
1897, and on the 12th of June, 1898, Cap- 
tain Parker married Mrs. Edna E. Mason, 
of Chicago. 

Captain Parker was in at the organiza- 



tion of the Republican party in Illinois, at 
Bloomington, in 1856, and has been a con- 
sistent and active Republican ever since. 
He has never aspired to hold public office, 
though frequently solicited to do so, but his 
services have always been at the command 
of his friends. 



FREDERICK MATZNICK. One of the 
substantial citizens of Hopkins town- 
ship, Whiteside county, is Frederick Matz- 
nick, whose home is situated on section 28. 
He is a native of Prussia, Germany, born on 
the i6th of February, 1843, ^ son of Fred- 
erick and Marie Matznick. The father, 
who died when our subject was a child of 
but seven years, was in the Prussian army 
for some years, and at the battle of Estrick 
received a number of severe flesh wounds. 
His widow, who reared her children with 
rare wisdom and fortitude, brought them to 
the United States in 1867, believing that 
greater opportunities for their future welfare 
could be found in this land of the free. Her 
useful life came to an end in 1881, but her 
memory is still tenderly treasured in the 
hearts of her numerous friends. 

Like all the sons of the Fatherland, 
Frederick Matznick received excellent edu- 
cational advantages in the public schools, 
and, in common with all his able-bodied 
companions, he then entered the German 
army. As a soldier he served his country 
faithfully for a period of three years and 
four months, and not until then did he feel 
at liberty to seek his own fortune and 
private interests. 

On the good ship which conveyed Fred- 
erick Matznick, his mother and sister to 
America, was a young lady, a friend of the 
family, Amelia J. Lemke. She was born in 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



431 



Prussia May 20, 1840, and became the wife 
of our subject March 26, 1868. Their 
eldest child, Frank H., was born December 
22, 1868, and resides at home. Ida, born 
December 16, 1870, married August Miller, 
May 14, 1 89 1 ; they have three children, and 
are now residents of Sterling, Illinois. Her- 
man G., born October 7, 1872, and Charles 
D., born July 3, 1874, are unmarried and 
assist their father in the work of the home- 
stead. Lizzie E., born February 14, 1876, " 
is the wife of Archibald Matthias, of this 
township, and they have two children. 
Emma, the fifth child of our subject, died 
in infancy. Hannah M., born May 31, 
1879, resides at home. 

Christian, the elder brother of Frederick 
Matznick, died in Germany, unmarried. 
Charles, born August 20, 1830, emigrated 
to the United States in 1 860, and is now a 
citizen of Hopkins township. He married 
Miss Sterns and has three children. Lottie, 
born February 2, 1833, became the wife of 
Christ Fibercorn, and their only child, 
Lottie, died in Iowa, February 2, 1895. 
Fredericka, born in Germany, February 2, 
1835, married Frederick Rohn, and four 
children were born to them. Of that family 
all are deceased save two of the children, 
who now live in Chicago. 

After his arrival in this country, Mr. 
Matznick worked for farmers for some nine 
or ten years, in the meantime carefully 
accumulating a sum of money to invest in a 
farm, when the proper opportunity pre- 
sented itself. In 1S85 he purchased the 
fine farm where he now dwells, and has 
made substantial improvements since that 
time. It is now considered one of the best 
farms in the township, and bountiful har- 
vests are reaped every year by the thrifty 
owner and his stalwart sons. 



In his youth, Mr. Matznick received a 
common-school education, and it has been 
a fixed purpose with him to provide his 
children with as excellent privileges as it 
has been in his power to give them. His 
interest in the public schools of this district 
led to his being appointed as a director, in 
which capacity he served for one term. 
Besides this, he served as a road commis- 
sioner for two terms. Politically he is a 
Democrat. Faithful to the creed of his 
childhood, he is a German Lutheran in 
religious faith. 



HULL SCOFIELD, a well-known livery- 
man of Rock Falls, who is successfully 
engaged in business at No. 31 i Main street, 
was born in Stamford, Connecticut, March 
17, 1857, a son of David and Betsy B. Sco- 
field. The father, who was a native of 
Westchester county. New York, and a 
farmer by occupation, came to Illinois on 
horseback in 1858, and later moved his fam- 
ily, locating in Sterling. He purchased a 
tract of government land in this section but 
did not actively engage in farming, though 
he soon became a large property owner, 
possessing over a section and a half of good 
farming land in Lee county, just over the 
line from Whiteside county. He died in 
this county in 1882, but his wife, who was 
also a native of New York, is still living on 
Locust street, Sterling, and enjoys good 
health at the age of seventy-four years. 

To this worthy couple were born five 
children, of whom our subject is the second 
in order of birth, the others being as fol- 
lows: David W., a prosperous farmer of 
Buena Vista county, Iowa, died upon his 
farm in 1889, leaving a widow and two chil- 
dren. E. Grant, a native of Rock Falls, 



432 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Illinois, is now a successful farmer of Buena 
Vista county, Iowa, where he owns over one 
thousand acres of land and is extensively 
engaged in stock raising. He is married, 
but has no children. Seely is a prosperous 
farmer of Lee county, Illinois, where he 
owned three hundred and twenty acres of 
farm land, and has held nearly all of the 
township offices. Jennie is the wife of M. 
P. Mighell, a farmer of Buena Vista county, 
Iowa, and they had three children, all of 
whom are now deceased. 

Hull Scofield was only a year old when 
brought by his parents to Sterling, and in 
the schools of that city he obtained his edu- 
cation. After laying aside his text books he 
located on his father's farm in Harmon, Lee 
county, Illinois, where he remained five 
years, and then came to Rock Falls and 
embarked in the livery business at his pres- 
ent stand. ■ He has built up a good business 
and enjoys an excellent trade. 

In 1870, Mr. Scofield was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Annie M. Baker, of Dixon, 
Illinois, the daughter of Ludwig Baker, a 
retired farmer of that place, and to them 
were born three children, two of whom are 
now living. Holman D. , born in Iowa City, 
Iowa, died in Rock Falls, May 13, 1891, at 
the age of thirteen years. Edward B., 
born in Rock Falls, February 14, 1883, ^nd 
Effie C, born in the same place, November 
I, 1884, are with their father. The wife 
and mother died in Rock Falls, April 27, 
1899, and was laid to rest at her old home 
in Dixon. 

Of excellent business ability and broad 
resources, Mr. Scofield has attained a prom- 
inent place among the substantial citizens 
of Rock Falls, and is a recognized leader in 
public affairs. He is at present serving as 
alderman from the second ward, and is one 



of the board of managers of Rapids camp. 
No. 151, M. W. A. He also belongs to the 
uniformed rank. Knights of Pythias, and is 
quite popular socially. 



JOHN E. MILROY. Genesee township, 
Whiteside county, has been fortunate 
in its pioneers and citizens, for, almost with- 
out exception, they have been characterized 
by all of the qualities which are found in the 
patriot. Education and all worthy enter- 
prises have been fostered by them, and the 
result may be seen in the high standing of 
this community in the state. 

The paternal grandfather of our subject 
came to the United States from Scotland, 
his native country. William Milroy, the fa- 
ther of John E., was born in Schenectady 
county, New York, September 15, 1829, 
and when he was twenty years of age he 
came to Illinois. In i860, he located upon 
a tract of eighty acres of land, situated in 
Carroll county, and is yet living in that 
vicinity. Success attended him in his busi- 
ness ventures, and from time to time he 
bought additional property, until his landed 
estate amounted to five hundred and twen- 
ty acres. Of late years, he has not been 
so actively engaged in farming as formerly, 
and, having divided some of his land among 
his children, he merely attends to the gen- 
eral management of the remainder. 

William Milroy married Harriet M. Pot- 
ter, who likewise was a native of Schencta- 
dy county. New York, her birth having 
taken place August 24, 1832. Of their six 
children George P., now of Carroll county, 
Illinois, wedded Etta Wood, and their chil- 
dren are named respectively: Agnes, Will- 
iam, Ellen, Mary, Clinton, Elvie and 
Glenn. Isabella L. , unmarried, lives on 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



433 



the old Carroll county homestead with her 
parents. William H., also of Carroll 
county, chose Kittle Cary for a wife, and 
their two children are named respectively: 
Cecil and Arnold. Ella A., wife of D. M. 
Myers, a merchant of Morrill, Kansas, has 
one daughter, Maud. Sydney B. P., who 
assists in the management of his father's 
farm, married Delia Lockett. 

John E. Milroy was born in Schenec- 
tady county. New York, August 26, 1859. 
He received a district school education and 
continued to give his father his services in 
the work of the home farm in Carroll 
county until he was twenty-five years of 
age. He then started out in an independ- 
ent career. Here he rented land for about 
a year, and finally became the purchaser of 
the property, which comprises one hundred 
and sixty-one acres located on sections 1 1 
and 12, Genesee township. For years he 
has given his attention to the raising of a 
general line of crops and has kept a certain 
amount of good live stock. Financial pros- 
perity has crowned his labors, and to-day 
he is assured of a competence. 

In all his joys and sorrows, Mr. Milroy 
has found a true helpmate in his devoted 
wife, whose name in her girlhood was Mary 
Lillian Teachout. Her parents, Cyrus A. 
and Mary T. (Olin) Teachout, were natives 
of New York state, the former born in the 
town of Half Moon, and the latter in Pike, 
Wyoming county. After their marriage 
they came to Carroll county, Illinois, in 
1854. Two of their five children died in 
infancy. William T., of Rock Falls, mar- 
ried Ella N. Friend, and their six children 
are: Mabel, Lottie, Zae, Dossie, Neta and 
Porter. Morton A., of Coleta, married 
Rebecca J. Stanley, and their three chil- 
dren are: Lula, Clifford and Forrest. 



The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Milroy 
was solemnized December 17, 1884. She 
was born in Carroll county, April 5, 1865, 
and by her marriage she has become the 
mother of six children. One of the number 
died in infancy, and the others are Earl R. , 
Maud L. , Arthur R., Harold J. and Viola 
May. 

Fraternally, Mr. Milroy is a member of 
Coleta lodge. No. 65, Mystic Workers of the 
World, and at present is acting in the capac- 
ity of master. Politically, he has taken a 
a very active part in the local affairs of the 
Republican party. For seven years he ably 
served as a school director; for some time 
was a commissioner of highways, in 1898 
was elected supervisor, and is a member of 
the finance committee, and is chairman of 
the educational committee. The same lively 
interest which he has manifested in the 
government of his own county, and in the 
general prosperity, has been noticeable in 
his church activities. In company with his 
estimable wife, he belongs to the Methodist 
Episcopal church of Coleta, and is a class- 
leader, trustee, treasurer and superintendent 
of the Sunday school. 



HERBERT T. BEARDSWORTH, pres- 
ident of the Bank of Erie, has a wide 
reputation as a most capable financier and 
occupies a position of no little prominence 
in business circles. His life demonstrates 
what may be accomplished through energy, 
careful management, keen foresight and the 
utili;^ation of powers with which nature has 
endowed one and the opportunities with 
which the times surround him. 

A native of Whiteside county, Mr. 
Beardsworth was born in a log cabin, in 
Newton township, August 21, 1849, and is 



434 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



a son of John and Mary A. (Shaw) Beards- 
worth, natives of England, the former born 
in Yorkshire, the latter in Staffordshire. 
In the summer of 1844 they bade good-bye 
to friends and native land and sailed for 
America, landing in New Orleans. Coming 
up the Mississippi river, they reached Al- 
bany, Illinois, in August, and took up their 
residence in Newton township, where the 
father entered forty acres of land in the 
spring of 1S45. In England he had fol- 
lowed the shoemaker's trade, but here he 
turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, 
and became one of the most successful 
farmers and stock raisers of the county. To 
his original forty-acre tract he added from 
time to time as his financial resources per- 
mitted until at the time of his death he 
owned two thousand acres of valuable land 
in Whiteside county, besides a large amount 
of personal property. He died January 10, 
1895, and the mother of our subject passed 
away January 3, 1869. They were highly 
respected and esteemed by all who knew 
them. 

To this worthy couple were born the 
following children: Richard, a well-known 
capitalist and farmer of Newton township, 
married a Mrs. Zook, and for his second 
wife a Miss Fletcher. His death occurred 
November 20, 1899. Alfred was a mem- 
ber of Company C, Eighth Illinois Cavalry, 
during the Civil war, and died at Fairfa.x 
Court House, Virginia, January 21, 1865. 
Edward died in infancy. Herbert T., our 
subject, is the ne.xt of the family. Albert 
J. married Priscilla Gibbler and resides in 
Albany, Illinois. 

Herbert T. Beardsworth grew to man- 
hood on the home farm, and the education 
he acquired in the district schools of the 
neighborhood was supplemented by a course 



of study at Albany and Davenport. On 
the 22d of February, 1874, he was united in 
marriage with Miss Sarah Metcalf, of Al- 
bany, who was born in England, November 
4, 1854, and when six years of age was 
brought by her parents, Frank and Hannah 
Metcalf, to America, locating in Albany. 
By this union four children were born, 
namely: Grace M., born March 27, 1875, 
graduated from the Morrison high school 
with high honors, as valedictorian of her 
class, and later married Joseph A. Miller, a 
resident of Davenport, lov^'a, and a gradu- 
ate of the Davenport Business College. 
Hattie M., born February 19, 1878, Harry 
G. , born September 13, 1881, and Frank 
B., born March 27, 1883, are all at home. 

After his marriage, Mr. Beardworth 
turned his attention to farming and stock 
raising, and in his labors met with marked 
success. He continued to reside upon his 
farm until 1896, when he removed to Erie 
and has since made that village his home. 
For some years before leaving the farm he 
had engaged in loaning money, and on com- 
ing to Erie established what is known as the 
Bank of Erie. Under his able management 
it has steadily prospered until it is now one 
of the leading financial institutions of the 
county. 

Politically Mr. Beardsworth has always 
affiliated with the Republican party, and is 
now a member of the Republican committee 
from Erie. He is also president of the 
school board, and takes quite an active in- 
terest in education affairs. While living on 
his farm, he held several local offices, such 
as township clerk, assessors, and treasurer 
for a number of terms, but now gives almost 
his entire time and attention to his banking 
business; however, he is always willing to 
give his support to every enterprise which 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



435 



he believes will prove of public benefit. He 
and his wife are members of the Presby- 
terian church and are held in high regard 
by all who have the pleasure of their ac- 
quaintance. 

JEWETT C. BUELL, a well known and 
prosperous dairyman and farmer resid- 
ing on section 8, Montmorency township, 
where he owns a fine farm of one hundred 
and sixty acres, was born in New York, 
May 22, 1858. His father, Clinton C. 
Buell, was born in Lebanon, Madison coun- 
ty. New York, March 22, 1828, and was 
educated at the academy in Hamilton, that 
state, from which he was graduated in 
1851. At the age of eighteen years he com- 
menced teaching school, and the greater 
part of his life was devoted to that profes- 
sion. He served as principal of Hamilton 
Academy for four years, and was the found- 
er of the Hamilton Female Seminary, 
which was carried on by a stock company 
and which graduated thirty-nine young 
ladies under his administration, but was 
closed at the financial crisis of his career. 
In 1859 he went to Anamosa, Iowa, where 
he was engaged in the grocery business until 
after the Civil war broke out. He raised 
part of a company of soldiers and was 
elected captain, but it was afterward joined 
with another, and he was made regiment 
quartermaster with the rank of first lieuten- 
ant. His brigade, which was a part of the 
Fourteenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, was 
the first to scale the ramparts of Fort Don- 
elson, and the stores were taken in com- 
mand of Lieutenant Buell. He participat- 
ed in the battles of Pittsburg Landing and 
Shiloh, the siege of Vicksburg, the battle of 
Meridian, and Banks' expedition up the Red 
river, and in the pursuit of Price through 



Missouri. After three years of arduous serv- 
ice he was mustered out in November, 
1864. On receiving his discharge Mr. Buell 
came to Sterling, where he invested his 
money in hay, but this venture did not 
prove successful, as the government had 
seized all cars and he was left without any 
means for shipping. He then purchased 
about five hundred and sixty acres of land 
in Montmorency township and turned his 
attention to agricultural pursuits; being a 
practical farmer, he met with good success 
in that business. He gave special attention 
to dairy farming, and was one of the pio- 
neers in the creamery business, building the 
first creamery in the county. In 1866 he 
was made principal of the third ward school 
of Sterling, and was the first principal of 
the second ward school conducted in the 
present building. On the 21st of July, 
1853, Mr. Buell was united in marriage 
with Miss Mary A. Niles, who was also 
born in Madison county, New York, No- 
vember 5, 1828, a daughter of John and 
Sarah (Mosley) Niles, who spent their last 
days in Whiteside county. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Buell were born seven children, of 
whom three died young. Of the others our 
subject is the eldest; P"red, who is engaged 
in the creamery business in Prophetstown, 
is married and has two children, Dorothy 
and Angeline; Charles C. , an attorney of 
Chicago, is married and has two chddren, 
Temple and Charles; Sarah is the wife of 
Harvey Strickler, a resident of Austin, a 
suburb of Chicago, and they have two chil- 
dren, Harvey and John. Both the parents 
are now deceased, the father dying Decem- 
ber 31, 1885, and the mother September 
II, 1897. 

The early education of Jewett C. Buell 
was acquired in the country schools of Mont- 



436 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



morency township, and later he attended 
the Northern Indiana Normal School at 
Valparaiso, taking a preparatory course. 
He remained at home with his parents and 
followed farming until his marriage, which 
was celebrated January lo, 1881, Miss Ly- 
dia Emmons becoming his wife. She was 
born in Doloma township, this county, 
March 26, 1861, a daughter of L. L. Em- 
mons, whose sketch appears elsewhere in 
this volume. They now have a family of 
si.\ children, whose names and dates of 
birth are as follows: Mary J., February 
19, 1883 ; Clinton L., January 3, 18S7; 
Fred J., October 30, 1889; JewettC, De- 
cember II, 1892; Francis E , August 16, 
1895; and Donald Dewey, October 28, 
1898. The daughter is now attending the 
Sterling high school. 

For two years after his marriage, Mr. 
Buell engaged in farming in Lyndon town- 
ship, and then removed to his present farm, 
on which he has erected a house since his fa- 
ther's death, but otherwise the place remains 
unchanged. He has also been interested in 
the dairy and creamery business for twelve 
years, and in his business career he has 
been very successful. Socially he is a 
Knight Templar Mason and a member of 
the Modern Woodmen camp. No. 1912. 
Religiously, his wife is a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal church. He is a Re- 
publican in politics but has never been aft 
aspirant for public office. He is a wide- 
awake, energetic business man, of known 
reliability, and as a citizen is always ready 
to discharge every duty that devolves upon 
him. 

SHERMAN D. COLLINS is a leading 
and popular citizen of Erie, who is now 
successfully engaged in the real estate busi- 



ness. His ability, enterprise and straight- 
forward dealings have gained for him an en- 
viable reputation, and although he is still a 
young man comparatively, his popularity is 
established on a firm basis — that of his own 
well-tested merit. 

Mr. Collins was born July 18, 1865, a 
son of James and Elizabeth Collins, and he 
received his education in the public schools 
of Erie. He remained under the parental 
roof until he was married, September 4, 
1890, to Miss Ida L. Waite, who was born 
September 20, 1S62, a daughter of William 
and Mary A. Waite. They have one child, 
Claude C, born August 16, 1892. 

After his marriage, Mr. Collins was en- 
gaged in the hotel and restaurant business 
for some years, but now gives his attention 
to the real estate business, in which he is 
meeting with good success. He is a stanch 
supporter of the Republican party and its 
principles, and has ever taken an active and 
prominent part in local politics. As one of 
the leading and influential citizens of his 
town he has been honored with important 
official pysitions, having been a member of 
the board of trustees for eleven years, and 
president of the same for two terms. He is 
now serving in the latter capacity with 
credit to himself and to the entire satisfac- 
tion of his constituents. Fraternally h'; is 
a member of Erie lodge. No. 667, F. (^- A. 
M.; Evangeline chapter, No. 52, O. E. S. ; 
and Acorn lodge, No. 317, K. P. 



JOHN BEELER, whose home is on sec- 
tion 7, Sterling township, comes from 
the fatherland, and the strongest and most 
creditable characteristics of the Teutonic 
race have been marked elements in his life 
and have enabled him to win success in the 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



437 



face of opposing circumstances. He pos- 
sesses the energy and determination which 
mari< the people of Germany and by the ex- 
ercise of his powers he has steadily pro- 
gressed, and has not only won a handsome 
competence but has commanded universal 
respect by his straightforward business 
methods. 

Mr. Beeler was born in Baden, Ger- 
many, November 30, 1848, a son of Chris- 
tian and Catherine Beeler, also natives of 
Baden, where the father engaged in farm- 
ing throughout life. He died when our 
subject was quite small, but the mother is 
still living in Baden. Our subject attended 
the public schools of his native land until 
fourteen years of age, and then worked on 
the home farm until his emigration to Amer- 
ica in 1S64. He sailed from Liverpool, 
and landed in the United States after a voy- 
age of thirteen days. He came at once to 
Sterling, Illinois, where he had friends liv- 
ing, and on reaching here found that he 
had but ten dollars with which to begin life 
in the new world. He secured work with 
Mathias Wahl, of Genesee township, and 
remained with him for two years. Later he 
engaged in fanning on the shares for John 
Dietrehn, Joseph Myers and Peter Bressler, 
being a year with each. 

At the end of that time Mr. Beeler was 
united in marriage with Miss Anna Bristley, 
also a native of Baden, Germany, and a 
daughter of Christ and Mary Bristley. Mr. 
and Mrs. Beeler have two children: Mar- 
garet E., the older, has attended the Ster- 
ling Business College, completed the nor- 
mal course in 1895, and is now pursuing art 
studies at Dixon College. Edgar is attend- 
ing the Sterling Business College. 

Mr. and Mrs. Beeler began their do- 
mestic life in Palmyra township, Lee 



county, where he bought eighty acres of 
cultivated and well-improved land, on which 
they lived for eleven years. In 1886 he 
purchased a fine farm of two hundred acres 
in Sterling township, on which they have 
since made their home. He has extended 
the boundaries of his farm by the additional 
purchase of a one-hundred-and-eight-acre 
tract, and now has one of the most desira- 
ble places in the township. In 1896 he 
erected a handsome modern residence at a 
cost of three thousand dollars, the architect 
being James Capp, of Sterling. The house 
is heated by a furnace and supplied with 
all modern conveniences. He has also 
erected a fine barn 42 x 70 feet. He is ex- 
tensively engaged in stock raising, feeds 
all of his corn to his stock, and makes a 
specialt}' of draft, Norman and Clyde 
horses. A man of keen perception, of un- 
bounded enterprise, his success in life is due 
entirely to his own efforts, and he deserves 
prominent mention among the leading and 
representative citizens of his community. 
He is a member of the Lutheran church of 
Sterling, and in politics is a Republican. 



JOHN E. SCOTT, who owns and oper- 
ates a well improved farm of one hun- 
dred and ninety-seven acres in Hopkins 
township, Whiteside county, is now living 
retired in the village of Como. He has 
been very successful as an agriculturist, and 
by the exercise of industry and natural abil- 
ty has accumulated a competency for his 
declining years. The respect and general 
regard of his neighbors and acquaintances 
are his to a gratifying degree, and a synop- 
sis of his history will, doubtless, prove of 
interest to many. 



438 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Born near Waterford, Morgan county, 
Ohio, May 26, 1826, John E. Scott is one 
of the thirteen children of Jesse and Anna 
G. (Sherman) Scott. The eldest of the 
family, Asa, born February 26, 18 17, mar- 
ried Elizabeth Taylor, when he was twenty 
years of age, and both are now deceased. 
They became the parents of sixteen children, 
five of whom reside near Como. Jane, 
born March 5, 181 8, married Isaac Bre- 
telle, who died many years ago. She is still 
living, her present home being in Nebraska, 
with one of her four surviving children. 
Josiah S., born May 18, 18 19, married 
Harriet Correll, in 1843, and they became 
the parents of twelve children. She died in 
September, 1899. David, born December 
5, 1820, married Lavina Stone and had 
nine children. Both are now deceased. 
Hiram B., born January 6, 1822, died June 
21, 1850, unmarried. Adrial, born Novem- 
ber 30, 1823, married Mary Salome, and 
died in 1896. Their five children survive, 
and the widow is now making her home in 
Iowa. Joel S., born September 30, 1824, 
wedded Polly Stillions, and their only child, 
Polly, is deceased. The mother, born Oc- 
tober 7, 1834, died October 7, 1851. Mr. 
Scott subsequently married Elizabeth Cor- 
rell, and had two children, but all of the 
family have passed away. Mary E., born 
June 4, 1829, married Edwin Scott, who 
survives her, his home being in Rock Falls, 
Illinois. Their family comprised six chil- 
dren. Maria A., born February 14, 1831, 
married Lewis Davis. Both are deceased, 
but their five children survive. Caroline A. , 
born August 8. 1832, became the wife of 
Alphonzo Brooks, and had three children. 
The parents died in California about twelve 
years ago. Alice E. , born February 27, 
1834, died September 9, 1845. Emeline, 



born February 7, 1842, was drowned in 
Rock river near Como May 8, 1845. 

Jesse Scott, the father of our subject, 
was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, 
and served in the war of 1812, as captain of 
a company, under command of General 
Johnson. Subsequently, he engaged in the 
milling business, at one time operating three 
flour mills. In 1830, he came to Illinois, 
where he engaged in work as a carpenter 
and blacksmith. He lived to a good old 
age, dying when in his ninetieth year. He 
was married on New Year's day, 181 5. to 
Miss Sherman, who was a devoted helpmate, 
sharing his joysand sorrows. 

When he was ten years of age, John E. 
Scott removed to the west with his parents. 
His father built a flat-boat, and conveyed 
his family and household goods to Illinois, 
by the way of the Muskingum, Ohio and 
Illinois river, as far as as Rock river, land- 
ing at Como, June i, 1830. Then com- 
menced a life of considerable hardship, but 
the family possessed the true pioneer spirit, 
and accepted uncomplainingly whatever 
came to them, believing that better times 
were in store. John E. Scott continued to 
live upon his parents' farm until his mar- 
riage, and subsequently became the owner 
of the property which had belonged to his 
father. He has continued to improve and 
cultivate this farm, until it is now considered 
one of the most valuable places in the 
county. He has endeavored to do his duty 
as a citizen, and in his political preference 
is a Republican. Religiously, he is con- 
nected with the Methodist Episcopal 
denomination. 

The marriage of J. E. Scott and Mary 
Jane Shereer was celebrated November 4, 
1852. Their eldest child, Anis Cecelia, 
born October 7, 1853, married David 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



439 



Donichy, of Nelson, Illinois. They have 
three sons and one daughter. Anna Eliza and 
Anna Adelia, twins, were born October 23, 
1855. The former became the wife of 
Charles Van Drou, and had five children. 
She died August 23, 1895, and Mr. Van- 
Drou married Kittie Walton, and resides in 
Sterling. Anna Adelia became the wife of 
Oscar Partridge, who cultivates the farm 
owned by our subject. They are the par- 
ents 01 two daughters. Amy Augustine, 
born July 27, 1857, died May 20, i860. 
Oscar H., born March 15, 1859, married 
Emma Kramer, and lives in Sterling. Mrs. 
John E. Scott's grandparents, John and 
Mary (McClurd) Sherer, were married in 
Germany, removed thence to Glasgow, 
Scotland, where her father was born. He 
went to Canada upon attaining his majority 
later located in Chicago, and for some 
years prior to his death dwelt in Joliet, 
Illinois. He departed this life, July 24, 
1851, and his wife, formerly Mary M. 
Cochran passed away December 23, 1850. 
Their marriage took place October 16, 
1832; their daughter Mary Jane was born 
October 26, 1833, and her twin brother 
died at the age of si.x weeks. 



ROLLIN H. WOODS, the well known 
and popular mayor of Rock Falls, is a 
native son of Whiteside county, born on 
the old home farm in MontnTorency town- 
ship, May 22, 1866. His father, Peter C. 
Woods, a native of Indiana, came to this 
state in 1864, and located in Montmorency 
township, Whiteside county, where he en- 
gaged in farming and stock raising. He 
married Ann Blacklidge, of Metamora, 
Indiana, and to them were born three chil- 



dren, of whom our subject is the youngest. 
Chester, born in Metamora, Indiana, died 
in Whiteside county, in 1885, at the age of 
twenty-two years. Edgar, also a native of 
Metamora, came to Illinois with his parents, 
and is now engaged in farming a few miles 
south of Rock Falls. He married Anna 
McWhorter,of Whiteside county, a daughter 
of Hon. Tyler McWhorter, whose sketch 
appears elsewhere in this work, and they 
have seven children, all living. 

Our subject spent his boyhood on the 
home farm and began his education in the 
common schools of the neighborhood. 
Early recognizing the advantages to be ac- 
crued by a good education, he eagerly seized 
the opportunities given him for the same, 
and attended the Sterling high school and 
later took the teacher's and surveyor's 
course in the Northern Illinois Normal 
School at Di.xon, from which institution he 
was graduated. He then taught school for 
several terms, and in 1889 opened a livery 
business in the city of Rock Falls, which he 
successfully conducted for two years, when 
he sold out and was in the railroad employ 
for some time, but not finding his last occu- 
pation congenial to his tastes, he returned 
to his old home artd in 1892 opened a real 
estate and insurance office in Rock Falls. 
This business he has managed with a great 
deal of skill and energy, has built up a good 
patronage, and become thoroughly acquired 
with the people and business interests of the 
city. For a time he was also a dealer in 
cigars and tobacco, which business he sold 
out in November, 1899. 

At Rock Falls, March 15, 1893, Mr. 
Woods was united in marriage with Miss 
Lida Wagley, a daughter of Joseph Wagley, 
of Rock Falls, and they now have a little 
son, Rollin E., born May 31, 1897. The 



440 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



family have a pleasant home at No. 202 
Fourth avenue. 

In 1894, Mr. Woods was elected alder- 
man and took an active part in the business 
of the city council and in the affairs of the 
cit}'. He was re-elected to the same posi- 
tion in 1896 and was an active member of 
the committee on finance, and streets and 
alleys, being chairman of the former com- 
mittee. In the spring of 1S99 he received 
the nomination for mayor, in recognition of 
his qua'ifications for that office and his untir- 
ing activity in advancing the best interests 
and prosperity of the city, and after a hard 
fought contest between the different candi- 
dates for that office, he came out victorious, 
being elected by a large majority, and carry- 
ing every ward. He is by no means un- 
acquainted with the responsibilities of the 
office, his two terms as alderman having 
fitted him for its duties. He has always 
been greatly interested in the affairs of the 
city, looking toward its advancement and 
improvement. He is himself a property 
owner in Rock Falls and has the interests 
of a true citizen in her welfare. Fraternally 
he is an active and prominent member 
of the Knights of the Globe and the Inde- 
pendent Order of Odd Fellows. 



LEONARD A. SLAYMAKER. a progress- 
ive farmer of Newton township, resid- 
ing on section 14, where he owns ninety 
acres of land under good improvement, in 
addition to which he has a lot of timber 
land on section 16. He was born in Lan- 
caster county, Pennsylvania, September 27, 
1836, and is the son of George and Anna 
Elizabeth (Rockey) Slaymaker, both of 
whom were natives of the same county and 



state, the former born in 1799, and the lat- 
ter in 181 8. They were both reared in their 
native county and there married. Eight 
children came to bless their union, of whom 
seven are yet living. Mary J., who is now 
the owner of the old family homestead in 
Newton township, is now making her home 
with her sister, Mrs. Dr. Lundy, of Lyons, 
Iowa. Lavinia C. is the wife of James 
Harris, of Bellfont, Pennsylvania. Leonard 
A. is the subject of this sketch. Anna E. is 
the wife of Ishmael Monroe, of San Jopquin 
county, California. George M. is a farmer 
of Newton township. Samuel H. died in 
Newton township January 4, 1883. Sarah, 
wife of Dr. Lundy, of Lyons, Iowa, was 
killed in a railroad wreck in 1881. James 
H. makes his home in Albany, Illinois. 

George Slaymaker came with his family 
to Whiteside county, Illinois, in April, 
1855, and after residing in the village of 
Albany one year, located in Newton town- 
ship, where he rented a farm for four years. 
He then bought a farm in the township on 
section 15, adjoining the present farm of 
our subject, which he improved, and on 
which he resided during the remainder of 
his life, his .death occurring July 15, 1881. 
In his native state he took an active part in 
public affairs, but after coming to Whiteside 
county, he lived a quiet and retiring life. 

The paternal grandfather of our subject, 
Captain John Slaymaker, commanded a 
company of riflemen during the war of 18 12, 
and was in active ser\'ice. His son George, 
the father of our subject, being too young 
to carry arms, accompanied his father in 
the service in the capacity of a teamster. 
The paternal great-grandfather was a soldier 
in the Revolutionary war, and was present 
at Braddock's defeat. George Slaymaker 
had the privilege of seeing the Marquis 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



441 



de Lafayette when the latter was on his last 
visit to the United States. 

The boyhood of our subject was spent on 
the farm in his native state, and he received 
a good common-school education. At the 
age of eighteen years, he entered a machine 
shop in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, to 
learn the machinist's trade, but this object 
was interrupted by the removal of the family 
to \\'hiteside county, he accompanying 
them. He remained with the family until 
the spring of 1859, when he started with a 
party of five to Pike's Peak. Those com- 
prising the party were his uncle, Alexander 
Slaymaker, Samuel Coffman, James Burns, 
a Mr. Gordon, and our subject. On reach- 
ing Omaha, they learned that Pike's Peak 
was "busted," and some of the party con- 
cluded to return home. Mr. Slaymaker 
was of the number that concluded to go on 
to the end of their journey. With their 
team of oxen they started across the plains, 
and at Fort Laramie met Horace Greeley, 
who was coming home from his famous 
overland trip. Arriving at their journey's 
end, the season was spent at Boulder and 
Long's Peak, Colorado, engaging in pros- 
pecting and mining, but without much suc- 
cess. In the fall the party sold out the 
claim they had located and returned home 
with the same ox team with which they 
made the outward trip. They arrived at 
home just at the beginning of the winter. 

Soon after his return home, Mr. Slay- 
maker was united in marriage with Miss 
Mary Stjigg, the wedding ceremony being 
celebrated at Fulton, Illinois, February 26, 
i86r. She was born in Henry county, Illi- 
nois, October 16, 1842, and came to White- 
side county with her parents, Thomas and 
Nancy (McDermott) Stagg, when but five 
years old. Her father was a native of New 

25 



Jersey, and located near Columbus, Ohio, 
and from there moved to Henry county, Illi- 
nois, in the thirties, and to Whiteside county 
in 1847, locating in Albany, where he en- 
gaged in blacksmithing a number of years, 
and later bought a farm in Newton town- 
ship, where he spent the remainder of his 
years, dying in December, 1884. Mr. and 
Mrs. Slaymaker have been blessed with no 
children of their own, but reared from in- 
fancy a niece of Mrs. Slaymaker, Mary 
Effner, daughter of Edward and Amanda 
Effner, and she is now the wife of William 
W. Blean, a prominent farmer of Newton 
township. 

After marriage Mr. Slaymaker engaged 
in farming in Newton township until the 
fall of 1872, when he rented his land and 
moved to Marion county, Kansas, where he 
purchased a claim and spent one season en- 
gaged in farming. In the spring of 1874 
he returned to Whiteside county intending 
to sell his property here and take up his 
permanent residence in Kansas. Being un- 
able to sell to advantage, he concluded that 
Whiteside county was a good enough place 
in which to live, and therefore he returned 
to his farm and Kansas lost a good and val- 
uable citizen and Illinois regained one. 

Since his return from Kansas Mr. Slay- 
maker has given his sole attention to agri- 
culture, following an intelligent system of 
mixed farming. He has made nearly all the 
improvements on his place, which is one of 
the best in his township. In politics he is 
a Democrat and has given considerable at- 
tention to political affairs. For four years 
he served as justice of the peace in his 
township, and he has also given much of 
his time to educational affairs as a member 
of the board of education. He and his wife 
are members of the Newton Presbyterian 



44: 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



church, in which he has been an active 
worker, serving for twenty-five or thirty 
years as elder or trustee. He has also been 
active in Sunday-school work, serving as 
superintendent for many years. Fraternally 
he is a member of Pilot camp. Modern 
Woodmen of America. As a citizen he is 
progressive, and all who know him have for 
him unbounded respect. His home is a 
cultured and refined one, and his hospitality 
is unbounded. 



JOHN G. LIMERICK, one of the most 
energetic, enterprising and progressive 
business men of Rock Falls, is a native of 
Illinois, born in Bureau county, January i8, 
1864, and is a son of George and Letitia 
Limerick. The father, who was a native 
of New York, came to Illinois when a small 
boy and later took up government land in 
Bureau county which he developed into a 
good farm. He followed agricultural pur- 
suits throughout life and died upon his 
farm in Bureau county, in February, 1875. 
His wife passed away at the same place 
in 1878. Of their nine children, only three 
are now living besides our subject, namely: 
A. H. is a prominent citizen of Winfield, 
Kansas, and principal and superintendent 
of the public schools of that place; Maggie 
is the widow of Thomas A. Bishop, a 
prosperous farmer of Whiteside county, and 
she now lives with her three children at 
1005 West Fifth street, Sterling; and 
Minnie E. is the wife John Stewart, who is 
engaged in the express business in Chicago. 
The subject of this sketch was reared on 
the home farm in Bureau county, where he 
remained until nineteen years of age. He 
attended school in Ohio, that county, and 
when his education was completed went to 



Boone, Iowa, where he was employed in the 
grocery business for a short time. While 
there Mr. Limerick was married, April 14, 

1885, to Miss Ella Hartman, of that place, 
a daughter of Henry and Leah Hartman. 
Three children were born of this union: 
Elmo J., born in Boone, Iowa, January 27, 

1886, died in Rock Falls, in 1890, and was 
hurried in Sterling, Illinois; the second 
child died in infancy unnamed; Volney G. , 
born in Rock Falls, December 17, 1891, 
completes the family. 

Mr. Limerick remained in Boone, Iowa, 
until April, 1887, and then came to Rock 
Falls, where he has since resided. He was 
employed as clerk in the hardware store of 
A. J. McNeil & Company for a period of seven 
years, and for one year by E. U. Taylor, 
another hardware merchant of Rock Falls. 
In 1896 he embarked in business for him- 
self, purchased a barber shop, which he has 
since owned, but does not give all his time 
to the business, being now engaged quite ex- 
tensively in the fire insurance business. He 
has obtained the agency for several of the 
best companies, and by his industry and 
close attention to his business has built 
up a large and prosperous patronage in 
that line. In the spring of 1898, he 
was elected city collector for a term 
of one year. During that time the of- 
fice was made an appointive one, and 
upon the expiration of his term he was ap- 
pointed by Mayor Woods for another term. 
He is a public-spirited citizen who gives his 
support to every enterprise for the public 
good. 

WILLIAM E. CURTIS, a prominent 
liveryman of Rock Falls, and a 
worthy representative of an honored pio- 
neer family of this county, was born in 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



443 



Tampico township, December 14, 1854, 
and is a son of George VV. Curtis, a native 
of Connecticut, who was born May 6, 1S22, 
and lived near Hartford until 1848, his time 
and attention being devoted to farming and 
stock raising. While still a resident of the 
east he was united in marriage with Miss 
Lois R. Hart, a daughter of Russell and 
Lois Hart, of New York state, and to this 
union six children were born, of whom our 
subject is the fourth in order of birth, the 
others being as follows: Nancy E., born 
on the Fox river, at Newark, Illinois, is now 
the wife of Brantson H. Gray, a carpenter 
of Rock Falls, and they have six children, 
all living: Henry, Minnie, Jean, Arthur, 
Lois and Catherine; George H., born at 
Newark, is now traveling in. Europe; Jessie 
L., born in Newark, married Delia Batch- 
eler, of Montmorency township, this coun- 
ty, by whom he has four children, and he is 
now engaged in farming in Ness county, 
Kansas; Lois Isabelle, born in Tampico 
township, Whiteside county, is the wife of 
Irwin Green, of Montmorency township, 
who is now a Methodist minister of Cream- 
ery, Iowa, and they have three children, 
Ethel, Maurice and Herbert; and Etnily A., 
born in Tampico, married Frank Bryan, a 
farmer of Montmorency township, where 
she died in February, 1884, at the age of 
twenty-four years, and was buried there. 

Immediately after his marriage, George 
W. Curtis came west and first located on 
the Fox river, near Newark, Illinois, where 
he engaged in farming and stock raising for 
some time. Subsequently he removed to 
Tampico township, this county, where he 
purchased two hundred and forty acres of 
government land, and to its cultivation and 
improvement he devoted his time and at- 
tention for fifteen years. He next made his 



home in Coloma township, about two miles 
east of Rock Falls, until 1887, when he 
moved to Rock Falls and erected there a 
residence. He lived here until November, 
1899, when he removed to Caro, Michigan, 
where he has property interests and where 
he and his wife intend to reside. 

The early Jife of our subject was spent 
upon the farm in Tampico township where 
he was born, and in the district schools of 
the neighborhood he began his education, 
pursuing his studies there through the win- 
ter months, while during the summer sea- 
son he aided his father on the farm. In 
1869 he removed with the family to Coloma 
township, where he continued his school 
life and remained with his father for about 
two years. At the end of that time he 
started out in life for himself, and for seven 
years worked on different farms in this 
county. 

January 15, 1878, Mr. Curtis led to the 
marriage altar Miss Edna Barber, a daugh- 
ter of Sidney and Sophia (Martin) Barber, 
of Rock Falls, whose sketch appears else- 
where in this volume. By this union four 
children have been born, namely: Elmer, 
born in Montmorency township, this coun- 
ty, June II, 1 88 1, is now attending the pub- 
lic schools of Rock Falls, from which he 
will graduate in 1900; Arthur, born in this 
county, December 30, 1882, is a student in 
the high school of Rock F"alls; and Sidney, 
born June 21, 1889, and George W., born 
December 25, 1891, are also in school. 

After his marriage, Mr. Curtis went to 
Nebraska, where he spent one summer, and 
on his return to Whiteside county, he en- 
gaged in farming in Montmorency township 
until 1889, when he came to Rock Falls 
and embarked in the livery business, which 
he has since carried on with most excellent 



444 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



success. He is one of the leading business 
men of the city and cjuite prominent in pub- 
lic affairs. He was highway commissioner 
of Coloma township for six years, and alder- 
man of Rock Falls, from the second ward, 
in 1895 3-n<^ 1896. Politically he is identi- 
fied with the Republican party, and frater- 
nally he belongs to the Knights of Pythias, 
of Sterling; the Knights of the Globe, of 
Rock Falls; the Ancient Order of United 
Workmen, and the Mystic Workers of the 
World. 



FERNANDO N. BREWER is now prac- 
tically living a retired life upon his farm 
in Lyndon township, Whiteside county. 
He is numbered among the pioneer settlers 
of this locality, for since his early boyhood 
days he has been identified with the interests 
of this section of the state, and has borne 
his part in its progress and development. 
He has seen its wild lands transformed into 
fine farms, while its hamlets have become 
villages and industries and commercial enter- 
prises have been introduced. Long familiar 
with the county and its history, Mr. Brewer 
well deserves representation in this volume, 
and he is also deserving of the success which 
has crowned his well-directed efforts in busi- 
ness. His diligence and enterprise brought 
him prosperity, and he is now accounted 
one of the substantial citizens of the com- 
munity. 

A native of Berkshire county, Massa- 
chusetts, he was born July 23, 1836, and is 
of Welch lineage, probably five generations 
of the family having resided in America 
since the progenitor came from Wales to 
the New World. The grandfather, Daniel 
Brewer, was born August 19, 1784, in 
Berkshire county, Massachusetts, and was 



married in 1806 to Electa Langdon, who 
was born August 26, 1787. His brother 
was a soldier in the war of 181 2. Daniel 
Brewer died February 2, 1869, and his wife 
passed away February 8, 1870. Their 
children were Emeline, born October 23, 
1807; Daniel P., born November 18, 1809; 
Hiram, born July 29, 181 1; John, born June 
28, 1814; Eleazer T., born August 8, 1816; 
Esther M., born January 19, 18 19; Na- 
thaniel, born March 26, 1821; Harriet N. 
and Henry L., twins, born September i, 
1823; Reuben R., born June 8, 1825; Har- 
riet N., born March 23, 1828; and Phebe 
A., born September 13, 1830. Of these 
children only three are living — Reuben R. , 
of Berkshire county, Massachusetts; Phoebe, 
of Connecticut ; and Daniel P. , father of our 
subject. 

Daniel P. Brewer was born in Berkshire 
county, Massachusetts, in November, 1809, 
and when a young man learned the tailor's 
trade, which he followed until his removal 
to Whiteside county, in 1837. He married 
Emeline HoUister, who was born in Berk- 
shire county, in 181 1. They became the 
parents of five children, of whom our sub- 
ject is the eldest. Elizabeth was married 
May 18, 1856, to H. L. Osborne, now de- 
ceased, and resides in Sterling, Illinois. 
Their children are Adelbert; Lois; Harper; 
Elva, wife of Frank Blair, of Sterling; Etta; 
one who died at the age of eighteen years, 
and one who died in infancy. Lucelia, the 
third of the family, was married November 
24, 1862, to S. A. Langdon, of Morristown. 
James Oren, a farmer of Lutesville, Mis- 
souri, was married April 2, 1S74, to Rebecca 
H. Winner, and they have three children — 
May, a teacher; Earl and Jessie. Esther 
N. was married March 6, 1876, to J. H. 
Upton, a farmer of Portland township, and 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



445 



their children are Ralph, Mabel, Blanch 
and Ruth. 

Fernando N. Brewer was only a year 
old when brought by his parents to Illinois 
and thus he was reared amid the wild scenes 
of the frontier and with the family e.xperi- 
enced all the hardships of pioneer life. His 
father became a resident of Portland town- 
ship, where he has since resided, owning 
at one time two hundred acres of land, 
which he has deeded to his youngest daugh- 
ter, with whom he now makes his home. 
Before putting aside business cares he en- 
gaged in general farming and was quite suc- 
cessful in his undertakings. In politics he 
is a Republican and held several offices in 
the township. About 1885 he put aside all 
business cares and has since lived retired. 
His wife died November 12, 1894, since 
which time he has resided with his youngest 
daughter. 

Mr. Brewer, of this review, attended 
the first school established in White- 
side county and remained at home until 
twenty-si.x years of age, working the old 
homestead farm on the shares with his 
father for five years. He then married 
Cordelia Frary, who Was born in Prophets- 
town township, December 20, 1842, a 
daughter of Marvin and Eliza (NN'ight) 
Frary, early settlers of that township, to 
which place they removed from New York 
about 1839. Their only child was Mrs. 
Brewer. Mrs. Frary, however, was twice 
married, her first husband being Sampson 
Ellethorpe, by whom she had a son yet liv- 
ing, — E. S. Ellethorpe. Katie Brill Brew- 
er was born in Tampico township, White- 
side county, Illinois, January 19, 1879. 
Her parents both died before she was four 
years old; she then came and lived with our 
subject as one of the family. She graduated 



at the Prophetstown school in 1896 and has 
since worked at her trade of dressmaking 
while still making her home with Mr. and 
Mrs. Brewer. 

After his marriage Mr. Brewer located 
on a farm owned by his wife, where he re- 
mained for a year. He then purchased one 
hundred acres of land and has since added 
to his farm until it now comprises four hun- 
dred acres of highly improved land. It 
was only partially under cultivation when it 
first came into his possession but he trans- 
formed it into rich and fertile fields, erected 
new buildings and fences and added many 
modern accessories and equipments. He 
engaged in general farming and stock rais- 
ing and for a time engaged in the dairy 
business, but later abandoned that and 
made a specialty of the raising of Durham 
cattle. In 1891 his son assumed the man- 
agement of the farm and he has since lived 
retired, enjoying a rest which he has truly 
earned, for his career was an active and 
useful one, characterized at all times by 
the strictest integrity in his trade transac- 
tions. 

Mr. and Mrs. Brewer became the parents 
of two children: Mason P. , born in 1866, 
now operates the homestead and is an en- 
ergetic and enterprising agriculturist. In 
April, 1 89 1, he married Harriet Austin, 
and they have four children, — Buell, Carl, 
Harriet and Nellie. The daughter, Eva 
E. , is the wife of George Fisk, of Lyndon 
township. He owns a farm in Fenton 
township in connection with his brother, 
but is now living on his father's farm. They 
have two children, Roy and Myrtle. 

Mr. and Mrs. Brewer hold membership 
in the Methodist church of Lyndon, and he 
has held several offices in that organization. 
In politics he is a stanch Republican and 



446 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



has served as supervisor, assessor and in 
other local positions of trust and responsi- 
bility. He is one of the directors of the 
County Fair Association and has been one 
of the directors of the Old Settlers' Associa- 
tion for over thirty-four years. The presi- 
dency of this society has been tendered him, 
but he declined to serve. The association 
is in a very flourishing condition, and its 
annual meetings are attended by about ten 
thousand people. Throughout the county 
Mr. Brewer has a wide acquaintance and 
is held in the highest esteem by all. For 
more than fifty years he has been identified 
with the interests of this locality and few 
are more familiar with its history. His dil- 
igence and honesty in business have brought 
him gratifying success, and his fidelity to 
duty in public and private life have won 
him a leading place among the honored res- 
idents of this section of Illinois. 



FRANK HODGES, one of the most pro- 
gressive, enterprising and energetic 
farmers and stock raisers of Whiteside 
county, has spent his entire life here, his 
birth occuring in Coloma township, March 

12, 1859. His father, Francis VV. Hodges, 
now an honored and highly esteemed citizen 
of Rock Falls, was born in Massachusetts, 
August II, 1824, a son of David and 
Clarissa (Jones) Hodges, and was reared by 
his aunt. He was married February 6, 
1855, to Miss Mary Stewart, who was born 
in New York March 19, 1839, a daughter of 
James and Jane Stewart, and by this union 
four children were born, namely: Joseph 
W., born March [9, 1857, is a resident of 
Rock Falls; Frank, our subject, is the ne.xt 
in order of birth; Jenny L. , born October 

13, 1861, is the wife of Y. C. Stevenson, of 



Cleveland, Ohio; and J. Stewart, born 
March 12, 1875, lives at home with his par- 
ents. It was in 1840 that the father came 
to Whiteside county and subsequently he 
purchased a farm of ninety acres in Coloma 
township, to the improvement and cultiva- 
tion of which he devoted his energies during 
the greater part of his life. There he con- 
tinued to make his home until his removal 
to Rock Falls in 1895. 

Frank Hodges remained with his parents 
until reaching man's estate, acquiring an ex- 
cellent knowledge of agricultural pursuits, 
and receiving a good practical education in 
the common schools. On the iith of No- 
vember, 1889, he was united in marriage 
with Miss Vora Thompson, a daughter of 
R. M. Thompson, of Morrison, whose sketch 
appears on another page of this work. Our 
subject is now in partnership with his father- 
in-law in the stock business and has con- 
trol of Mr. Thompson's land, amounting to 
about nineteen hundred acres. Annually 
he feeds from two hundred and seventy-five 
to three hundred head of cattle and about 
five hundred hogs, and as a stock raiser and 
general farmer is meeting with most gratify- 
ing results. He is a man of keen discrim- 
ination and sound judgment and generally 
carries forward to successful completion 
whatever he undertakes. In his political 
affiliations he is a Democrat, and in his 
social relations is a member of the Modern 
Woodmen. 



JOHN L. THOMPSON is a skillful farmer 
and successful stock raiser whose home 
is on section 15, Fenton township, White- 
side county, Illinois, where he owns one 
hundred and sixty acres of land, and also 
has an adjoining tract of ten acres on sec- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



447 



tion 19. He was born in that township, 
March 26, 1852. and is a son of R. M. 
Thompson, a retired farmer of Morrison, 
whose sketch will be found on another page 
of this work. Our subject remained under 
the parental roof until he attained his ma- 
jority and then began the battle of life for 
himself. He purchased his present farm, 
and upon that place has since followed his 
chosen calling with marked success. He 
devotes considerable attention to stock rais- 
ing, and usually keeps on hand enough 
stock to consume all the grain raised upon 
his farm. Lately he has turned his atten- 
tion to dairy farming, and for that purpose 
now keeps from fifteen to twenty cows. 

Mr. Thompson was married, December 
23, 1880, to Miss Carrie E. Hamlin, who 
was born in Erie, Whiteside county, Feb- 
ruary 17, 1861, a daughter of S. Benjamin 
and Nancy Hamlin, the father born in New 
York, the mother in Pennsylvania. The 
father engaged in the cooper business in 
Erie, having formerly learned the trade 
while a resident of Ohio. Mrs. Thompson 
is the si.xth in order of birth in a family of 
seven children, the others being as follows: 
(i) Oliver C. , now a resident of Peoria, 
and county engineer of Peoria county, Illi- 
nois, married Susan Aldapher, and they had 
four children, two of whom died in infancy. 
Those living are Sylvester B. and Howard 
W. (2) Ammi Rogers, a street railway con- 
ductor of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, married 
Lucy V. and Roe, and they have two children, 
Fred N. Roy. (3) Alfred Albert died when 
young. (4) Addie E. is the wife of John 
B. Wood, of Fenton, Whiteside county, 
and they have five children: Harry; Car- 
rie N. and Callie E., twins; Fred; and Wil- 
lis. (5) Ida Ellen died at the age of twelve 
years. (7) Frank B., a farmer residing in 



Erie, married Mary Anna Mutschler. Mr. 
and Mrs. Thompson have become the par- 
ents of two children: Roy J., born Janu- 
ary 13, 1885, and Matt C. , born May 20, 
1888. Both attend the public schools. 

Mr. and Mrs. Thompson hold member- 
ship in the Christian church of Erie, and 
are highly respected and esteemed where- 
ever known. He is also a member of Ew- 
ing lodge. No. 175, M. W. A., and politic- 
ally is identified with the Democratic party, 
although he was reared a Republican. He 
is now an advocate of the free coinage of 
silver, believing it to be for the best inter- 
ests of the entire country. 



LEOPOLD STOECKLE, deceased, was 
one of the leading business men of 
Sterling for some years, and took an active 
part in promoting its substantial im- 
provement and material development. An 
adopted son of America, his loyalty was 
above question and his labors in the inter- 
est of the city were most effective and ben- 
eficial. 

Mr. Stoeckle was born in Baden, Ger- 
many, November 11, 1832, and when about 
fifteen years of age was brought to Amer- 
ica, by his parents, Ludwig and Eliza 
Stoeckle, who located in Cleveland, Ohio. 
There he learned the barber's trade, and at 
the age of eighteen he removed to Chicago, 
where he continued to work at his trade for 
some years, conducting the barber shop in 
the Sherman House for a part of the time. 
In that well-known hotel, Mr. Stoeckle 
was married, January 5, 1852, by Rev. 
Rowley, a Methodist Episcopal minister, to 
Miss Cathrina Bergman, who was born in 
Prussia, Germany, February 15, 1831, and 
when fifteen years of age came to America 



448 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



with her parents, John August and Kath- 
rina (Steffin) Bergman. In Chicago her 
father followed his trade of carpenter and 
builder, and also engaged in the real estate 
business, buying and improving city prop- 
erty and then selling it again. In this way 
he accumulated a competency. Both he 
and his wife died in Chicago and were laid 
to rest in Calvary cemetery. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Stoeckle were born 
thirteen children, namely: John Lee, born 
November 26, 1852, is now a barber en- 
gaged in business on the corner of First 
avenue and Third street, Sterling; Rosa 
and Kathrina, twins, born December 15, 
1853, died in infancy; Emil Albert, born 
April 6, 1855, resides with his mother; 
James, born November 27, 1856, died 
when three days old; Mary A., born Feb- 
ruary II, 1858, is the wife of William Per- 
kins, of Minneapolis, Minnesota; Eugene, 
born December 14, 1859, died when ten 
days old; Edward Eugene, born December 
17, i860, is a barber of Stafford, Kansas; 
Walter Julian, born December 2, 1862, is 
a mail carrier of Sterling; Julius, born Jan- 
uary 5, 1865, died April 6, the same year; 
William, born October 24, 1866, died May 
10, 1868; William August, born October 6, 
1868, is bookkeeper for the Wire Works 
Company, of Sterling; and George Rudolph, 
born October 10, 1871, was accidentially 
drowned in Rock River, August 11, 1887. 

After his marriage, Mr. Stoeckle con- 
ducted the Sherman House barber shop 
until 1859, when he came to Sterling and 
opened a shop in the Boynton House, then 
the principal hotel in the place. There he 
remained in business for two or three years, 
and then removed farther down town, carry- 
ing on business at several different places 
until he finally purchased property and in 



1 868 erected the store building on Third 
street now occupied by the D. & W. Cloth- 
ing store, which has since been remodeled, 
improved and modernized by Mrs. Stoeckle, 
who has put in a new front. He also 
bought the building on the corner of Third 
and Locust streets, formerly owned by the 
Patterson Banking Company, now the Adam 
Express Company's office. He also pur- 
chased a residence at No. 209 Fifth avenue, 
which is now occupied by his son, William 
Stoeckle. He built up a successful and 
profitable business and judiciously invested 
his savings in town property. Since her 
husband's death, Mrs. Stoeckle has most 
ably conducted her business affairs. In 
1887 she built a double house on Second 
street between Eighth and Ninth avenues, 
and in 1 892 erected her present fine residence 
on Fifth avenue beside the old home now 
occupied by her son. 

During his entire business career, Mr. 
Stoeckle gave his undivided attention to his 
trade, and by industry and economy, and 
the exercise of good judgment in invest- 
ments he made a signal success. He was 
of a kind and genial disposition, and was a 
friend and counselor to those in need. He 
was a man who made many friends and 
had no enemies. He was prominent in the 
leading fraternal societies, being a Knight 
Templar Mason, and a member of the In- 
dependent Order of Odd Fellows and other 
orders. He died June i, i88r, honored 
and respected by all who knew him. 



EJOE McENTIRE, M. D., a prominent 
and successful young physician oi Erie, is 
a native of Illinois, born in Rock Island coun- 
ty, April 22, 1874, and is a son of Thomas 
L. and Elizabeth McEntire, both of whorq 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



449 



were of Scotch-Irish descent. After com- 
pleting his literary education he began prep- 
aration for his chosen profession. He en- 
tered Rush Medical College, of Chicago, 
and on the completion of the prescribed 
course was graduated from that noted insti- 
tution May 22, 1895. On the ist of No- 
vember, of the same year, he opened an 
office in Erie, Whiteside county, Illinois, 
and as his skill and aodity became recog- 
nized he built up a good practice which he 
now enjoys. He is a progressive physician 
and constant study and close application 
have kept him well informed on the latest 
discoveries made in the practice and science 
of medicine and surgery. 



ALEXANDER J. McNEIL is a leading 
hardware merchant of Rock Falls and 
occupies a foremost position among the 
prominent business men of the city. He is 
a native of Whiteside county, born on a 
farm adjoining Rock Falls, in 1857, and is 
a son of Robert McNeil, of Coloma town- 
ship, whose sketch appears elsewhere in 
this work. He was reared on the farm 
where his father still resides, and remained 
under the parental roof until twenty-four 
years of age, while he obtained his educa- 
tion in the district schools of Coloma town- 
ship, pursuing his studies in the little brick 
school house east of Rock Falls, near the 
old home farm. He well remembers many 
times during his boyhood of herding cattle 
on the present site of Rock Falls. His 
youth was that of the common farm life of 
the boys of the west, full of that natural 
freedom of life, slowly molding that char- 
acter which, through habits of industry, pa- 
tience and duty, and untrammeled by vice, 



makes our best and noblest citizens of to- 
day — makes the brains of our country. 

In 1879, Mr. McNeil came to Rock Falls 
and commenced business life by entering 
into partnership with A. M. Batcheler in 
the agricultural implements business under 
the firm name of Batcheler & McNeil, and 
in which he continued for three years. 
Being offered the position of traveling sales- 
man for the McCormick Harvester Com- 
pany, in 1883 he accepted, disposed of his 
business and remained with them until Octo- 
ber of the same year when he began travel- 
ing for the Sterling Manufacturing Com- 
pany, remaining with them two years. He 
afterwards held a similar position with the 
Barnes Manufacturing Company of Free- 
port and was in their employ until March 
1888, when he returned to Rock Falls and 
embarked in the hardware business, which 
he has successfully conducted ever since. In 
1896 the frame building which he occupied 
was destroyed by fire, but with characteris- 
tic energy he immediately commenced the 
erection of another, and as the result now 
has a fine substantial brick structure, the 
interior arrangement of which is perfectly 
adapted for the display of the full line of 
hardware which he carries. 

In the fall of 1883, Mr. McNeil was 
united in marriage with Miss Carrie Chase, 
of Washington D. C. , a sister of Hon. B. 
F. Chase, of the pension department at 
Washington. They have one child, Emily 
J., born in Rock Falls November 17, 1889. 

Mr. McNeil is a popular citizen and held 
in high esteem by the people of Rock Falls. 
He has alwaj'S been an active worker in the 
interests of the city. In 1896, at the time 
his store was burned, he, in return for their 
noble services, gave the fire department of 
Rock Falls and Sterling a fine banquet on 



450 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Lincoln's birthday, which returned in unit- 
ing these departments into a friendly ex- 
change of duties, so that ever since mutual 
assistence is rendered on every necessary 
occasion. Politically Mr. McNeil is an ardent 
Democrat, but has never cared for political 
honors. He is a proniment member of the 
Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the 
Knights of the Globe, being one of the 
directors of the Knightsof the Globe Mutual 
Benefit Association. Mr. McNeal and his 
wife are members of the Presbyterian church 
and he has been an active member of the 
Y. M. C. A., of which he is now a director. 



THOMAS J. WILBER, who is now living 
retired from active labor in the village 
of Erie, was born in New York state, July 
28, 1840, a son of James and Katherine 
(Nolls) Wilber. The father, who owned 
and operated a sawmill in that state, died 
about 1884, and the mother departed this 
life in 1871. In their family were eleven 
children. 

Our subject was reared by his maternal 
grandfather, and remained with him until 
twenty-two years of age. On the 23d of 
January, 1867, he was united in marriage 
with Miss De Vera Grover, and soon after- 
ward they came to Whiteside county, Illi- 
nois, locating on a farm in Garden Plains 
township, where they lived for about two 
years. The following year was spent in 
Iowa, but at the end of that time they re- 
turned to this county and took up their resi- 
dence in Erie, where Mr. Wilber was suc- 
cessfully engaged in mercantile business for 
a number of years. He owns a good farm 
of eighty acres in Fenton township, which 
he has improved and cultivated, and resided 
on it for seven years. Since the spring of 



1899 he has lived retired in Erie, enjoying 
the fruits of former toil. 

Mr. and Mrs. Wilber have one child, 
Lawrence A., who is now engaged in the 
stock business in Hillsdale. The parents 
are both earnest and consistent Christians, 
though members of different religious de- 
nominations, Mr. Wilber belonging to the 
Christian church, his wife to the Seventh 
Day Adventist church. In politics he is in- 
dependent, voting for the men whom he 
believes best qualified to fill the offices, re- 
gardless of party affiliations. He commands 
the respect and confidence of all who know 
him and is one of the honored citizens of 
his communitv. 



BERNHARD JOHNSON. The Teutonic 
race has always been an important 
element in our national progress, and Ger- 
many has furnished to America many of her 
best citizens. Our subject is one who came 
from the fatherland to the new world and 
to-day he is one of the most extensive farm- 
ers and stock dealers of Whiteside county, 
owning.four hundred acres of valuable land 
and leasing five hundred acres additional. 
He was born in the Grand Duchy of Olden- 
burg, Germany, September 16, 1840, and 
is a son of Tobias Johnson, whose death 
occurred when our subject was only three 
months old. The mother bore the maiden 
name of Margaret Mennen, and like her 
husband was a native of Oldenburg. Bern- 
hard was their only child, but after the 
death of the father the mother wedded 
Frederick Lubben Hendrichs, and by that 
union had two children, both of whom died 
in early life. 

Bernhard Johnson obtained his educa- 
tion in the public schools and remained in 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



451 



the fatherland until twenty-six years of age, 
when he came to Illinois, believing that he 
might better his financial condition in the 
new world. For thirteen years he made his 
home in Dixon, where he engaged in 
sprinkling streets and also purchased and 
operated a gristmill, which he conducted 
successfully for some time. At length he 
sold out and took up his abode in Nelson 
township, where he engaged in farming on 
rented land. In 1878 he came to Mont- 
morency township, Whiteside county, where 
he purchased two hundred and forty acres 
of land to which he afterward added a quar- 
ter section, making four hundred acres in 
all. Here he is engaged in the raising of 
grain and stock. His farm was not improved 
when he located thereon, but he has since 
erected an elegant brick residence and made 
all modern improvements. He has a sew- 
erage system on the farm and water is piped 
to all the buildings. The barns and out- 
buildings are models of convenience, and 
the residence, which was erected in 1895, is 
supplied with all improvements. The land 
is under cultivation or used for pasturage 
purposes, for he is extensively engaged in the 
raising of stock. At one time he rented his 
farm and removed to Chicago, where he re- 
mained for five years. During the World's 
Fair, he conducted a hotel and boarding 
house there, and yet owns some suburban 
property in that city. Since his return he 
has engaged quite extensively in dealing in 
stock, buying both cattle and sheep in all 
sections of the country. He annually ships 
about twelve carloads of each, and now has 
about seventeen hundred sheep upon his 
farm. He is regarded as one of the most 
successful stock dealers in this section of the 
state, and has conducted his business with 
such marked energy and enterprise that he 



has justly won a place among the wealthy 
agriculturists of his adopted county. 

While in Dixon Mr. Johnson was united 
in marriage, April 22, 1869, to Eva E.. 
daughter of J. J. and Marie E. (Dirkes) 
Juelfs, natives of Germany. Mrs. Johnson 
was born in that country in 1848, and by 
her marriage has become the mother of four 
children: Mamie, wife of John Terhune, 
who is residing on a farm in Lee county, and 
they now have two sons, Harry and Lester; 
Albert, who wedded Olive E. Pettitt, and is 
now renting a farm adjoining his father's; 
Effie, wife of Harry Erd, an operator at the 
postal telegraph station in Chicago; and 
Fred, who is assisting his father on the farm. 
The parents are consistent members of the 
Lutheran church, and enjoy the high regard 
of many warm friends. In politics Mr. 
Johnson is a stanch Republican, an advo- 
cate of sound money, and for a number of 
years has acceptably filled the office of 
school director. His hope of bettering his 
financial condition in the new world has 
been more than realized, and he has justly 
gained a place among the representative 
agriculturists of Whiteside county, for his 
business career has been characterized by 
integrity and unfailing industry. 



HON. J. G. MANAHAN, deceased, was 
for many years one of the most promi- 
nent and successful lawyers of Whiteside 
county, his home being in Sterling. He 
made a specialty of patent law and in that 
line gamed a most enviable reputation. He 
was born in Concord, Lancaster county, 
Pennsylvania, May 12, 1837, a son of 
William and Isabella (Gait) Manahan, na- 
tives of the same county. There the father 



452 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



engaged in merchandising and also ran a 
private railroad. He was born February 
25, 1806, and was a son of James E. 
Manahan, who was born near Baltimore, 
Maryland, March 16 or 18, 1777, and with 
his wife came to Whiteside county, Illinois, 
here spending their remainder days. The 
great-grandfather of our subject was James 
Manahan, who was born March 16, 1740, 
and died February 17, 1823. He was a 
soldier of the Revolutionary war under 
General Washington. The family is of 
Scotch-Irish extraction, and was founded 
in this country by a native of County 
Cavan, Ireland. 

In his native county, William Manahan, 
father of our subject, was married in 1829, 
to Miss Isabella Gait, an aunt of Thomas A. 
Gait, of Sterling, and a descent of Robert 
Gait, who emigrated to this country in 
1 710. In 1 846 they came to Gait, Whiteside 
county, Illinois, and here Mr. Manahan be- 
came an extensive landholder, owning prop- 
erty in different parts of the county up to 
the time of his death. He was one of the 
first settlers of this region to come down 
the Ohio and up the Mississippi, and then 
drive across the country to Fulton. He 
continued to live on his farm near Gait un- 
til elected sheriff of the county in 1854 
when he removed to Sterling, then the 
county seat. He was one of the most 
prominent and influential citizens of this 
part of the state, as well as one of its 
honored pioneers. On locating here he 
took up a tract of government land and had 
to go to Springfield to enter the same. In 
connection with agricultural pursuits he 
was also engaged in the hardware business 
in Sterling, and owned an interest in R. B. 
Whitmer's store, becoming quite wealthy. 
He died while on a visit to his farm in 



Hopkins, June 16, 1886. He was a faith- 
ful member of the Presbyterian church, and 
as an Abolitionist took an active interest in 
the underground railroad prior to the Civil 
war. 

T. G. Manahan, our subject, remained 
on the home farm until the removal of the 
family to Sterling in 1854. He attended 
Knox College, Galesburg, and later read 
law with Kirk & Ward, of Sterling, the lat- 
ter an older brother of Judge Ward, who is 
represented elsewhere in this work. Be- 
fore finishing his law course, however, he 
enlisted in 1861, in Company B, Thirteenth 
Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and his military 
career was a brilliant one until shot in 
front of Vicksburg during the siege of that 
place. Up to this time he was with his 
regiment uninterruptedly and was always 
found at his post of duty, valiantly defend- 
ing the old flag and the cause it represented. 
After being wounded he was sent to the 
hospital at St. Louis, and later was detailed 
to guard rebel prisoners at Rock Island and 
took the first prisoners to Governor island. 
He was in the service over three years and 
was then honorably discharged and returned 
home. 

While recuperating he spent three years 
upon his father's farm and left it at the end 
of that time in excellent condition. On the 
25th of December, 1866, he married Miss 
Chattie L. Ward, a sister of Judge Ward, 
and they remained on the farm until the 
following year when they returned to Sterl- 
ing and purchased the ground on which the 
beautiful home of the family now stands, at 
No. 507 Fifth avenue. Here his widow 
and daughter. Miss Mary Isabella, now re- 
ride. The latter has taken up the work of 
her father as far as securing patents are 
concerned. On the 29th of November, 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



453 



1S99, she was married to Frederick W. 
Honens, who is employed as a civil engin- 
eer on the Hennepin canal. 

In 1868 Mr. Manahan was admitted to 
the bar and engaged in practice in Sterling, 
being a partner of Colonel William Kilgore 
for some years. He enjoyed an extensive 
practice, especially as a patent lawyer be- 
fore the supreme county of the United 
States, and as such had few equals and no 
superiors. He assisted in organizing the 
Sterling Gas & Electric Light Company, 
and also had an interest in the Gas Engine 
Company. His fellow citizens, recognizing 
his worth and ability, called him to public 
office, and he most acceptably served as 
mayor of the city three terms, alderman 
many terms, and in 1882 was elected to the 
state Legislature on the Republican ticket. 
He was a member of the state board of 
charities for twelve years from 1879, and 
was a warm personal friend of Governors 
Fifer and Tanner, but was asked to resign 
by Governor Altgeld. He took an active 
interest in everything for the upbuilding of 
the city, and bore an important part in or- 
ganizing the public library. He died Sep- 
tember II, 1897, honored and respected by 
all who knew him. He was an earnest and 
sincere Christian, a member of the Presby- 
terian church, in which he served as deacon 
for over a quarter of a century and was also 
Sunday school superintendent for many 
years. Upright, reliable and honorable, 
his strict adherence to principle commanded 
the respect of all. The place he won in the 
legal profession was accorded him in recog- 
nition of his skill and ability, and the place 
he occupied in the social world was a tribute 
to that genuine worth and true nobleness of 
character which were universally recognized 
and honored. 



EDWARD ASHLING, deceased, was one 
of the prominent and highly respected 
citizens of Rock Falls, whose early life was 
identified with the growth and upbuilding 
of the county. He was a native of Illinois, 
born in Aurora, November 27, 1854, and 
was a son of William and Susanna (Nick- 
son) Ashling, who were born in England 
and came to the United States at an early 
age, being married in Aurora, Illinois, No- 
vember 13, 1853. The father, who is a 
carpenter by trade, was born January 12, 
1829, and is still living in Rock Falls, but 
the mother died December 8, 1893, ^t the 
age of si.xty-four years. 

Of the seven children born to them our 
subject was the oldest, the others being as 
follows: (2) William, born November 7, 
1857, is a farmer of Montmorency township, 
this county. He married Addie Tuttle and 
had three children: Lloyd, deceased; 
Frank and Fred. (3) Mary, born in Auro- 
ra, in i860, married Alonzo Stone, a farm- 
er, who died in Nelson township, Lee coun- 
ty, Illinois, in 1886, and she now resides in 
Rock Falls. They had five children: 
Arthur, now twenty-one years of age; Mabel 
and Olive, who died in Nelson township; 
Gilbert, who died in Rock Falls; and Alice, 
who is attending school in the latter place. 
(4) Louisa died in 1863, at the age of four- 
teen months. (5) Ellen, born August 2, 
1865, lives in Rock Falls. (6) Frank, born 
in November, 1867, in Montmorency town- 
ship, this county, died in Rock Falls, in 
October, 1886. (7) Sadie, born in Mont- 
morency township, in 1870, is the wife of 
Elmer E. Teach, a blacksmith, of Rock 
Falls, and they have two children, Floyd 
and a baby unnamed. 

The first twelve years of his life, Ed- 
ward Ashling passed in his native city, and 



454 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



then moved with the family to Montmoren- 
cy township, Whiteside county, where he 
grew to manhood. After his marriage he 
followed farming in that township for 
twelve years and in his undertakings met 
with excellent success. In 1887 he moved 
to Rock Falls, and during his residence 
there devoted his time to looking after his 
property interests, being the owner of a 
large farm in Lee county. He erected a 
fine residence in a most beautiful part of 
the city and lived there until his death, 
which occurred December 10, 1889. He 
was widely known as an upright, relia- 
ble business man, and he commanded the 
respect and confidence of all with whom he 
came in contact either in business or social 
life. He was a man of the times, broad- 
minded, public-spirited and progressive, and 
in his death the community realized that it 
had lost a valued citizen. 

On the 17th of February, 1873, Mr. 
Ashling was united in marriage with Miss 
Mary J. Stone, and to them were born five 
children, namely: Lois I., born in Nelson, 
Lee county, Illinois, in February, 1874, was 
married in February, 1895, to Lucius Parks, 
a farmer of Nelson township; George Will- 
iam, born in Nelson, in 1875, is a farmer of 
Lee county; Olive J., born in Nelson, in 
September, 1877, was married in 1897, to 
Lyle Colder, a farmer of Montmorency 
township, this county, and they have one 
child, Hugh Edward, born in September, 
1898; Clarence M., born in Nelson, in 1880, 
died there at the age of four months; Ed- 
ward W. A., born in Nelson, in 1885, and 
Luverne V., born in Rock Falls, in 1889, 
are both at home with their mother. 

Burrell H. Stone, the father of Mrs. 
Ashling, was born in New York state, in 
1821, and was the second child of Luther 



and Lamina Stone, who were married Oc- 
tober 19, 1817. They came west about 
1834 and settled at Fairpoint, Lee county, 
Illinois, and both died in Nelson, that coun- 
ty, Luther Stone in 1863, his wife in 1875. 
He was a farmer and stock raiser by occu- 
pation. In their family were seven children: 
Willard, Burrell H., Samuel, Alonzo, Savina, 
Albert, and one son who died unnamed. 
Burrell H. Stone was about fourteen years 
of age when he came to this state with the 
family and took up his residence at Fair- 
point, Lee county, which place is now known 
as Nelson. There he followed farming and 
stock raising throughout life, dying in Nel- 
son, May 7, 1886. In 1851 he married 
Miss Isabella McNeil, who was born in 
Paisley, Scotland, in 1832, and in 1849 
came to America with her parents, Alexander 
and Janet (Mason) McNeil, also natives of 
Scotland. They crossed the Atlantic on a 
sailing vessel and landed in New Orleans in 
safety, but the mother died while coming up 
the Mississippi river. The father, with his 
family, located in Lee county, this state, 
where he lived for several years and then 
moved to Chicago where he continued to 
make his home until called from this life 
July 4, 1 86 1. He was an engineer and fol- 
lowed that occupation throughout life. 
Mrs. Stone was the eldest of his five chil- 
dren; Mary, the second, is the wife of H. 
F. Batcheler, a manufacturer of Rock Falls; 
Robert is represented on another page of 
this volume; Jane is the wife of John Lyle, 
a farmer of Florida, by whom she has four 
children; and George M., a resident of 
Chicago, is married and has two children. 
Mrs. Ashling is the second in order of 
birth in a family of five children: (i) Lois 
J., born in Lee county, in 1852, died at 
Nelson in 1858. (3) Jessie A., born in Nel- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



455 



son, in 1856, is the wife of J. F. Schofield, 
of California; by a former marriage she has 
one child, Ernest W. Beal. (4) George D., 
born in Nelson, in 1861, is a farmer of 
Burt, Iowa. He married Elma Tuttle, of 
Sterling, and they have four children: 
Maude E. , Anna Belle, Clara and George 
H. (5) Lamina, born in Nelson, in 1864, 
is the wife of Walter Cameron, of Georgia; 
by a former marriage she had one son, Lester 
Robinson, now nine years of age. 



MRS. CAROLINE H. BURR, widow of 
Captain James Madison Burr, is one 
of the honored pioneers of Whitesides 
county, and few, indeed, if any, of the citi- 
zens here to-day can with her boast a con- 
tinuous residence within the county boun- 
daries of three-score years. She well 
recalls in memory the appearance of Como 
and the surrounding country, as she first 
beheld it, when Chicago was a tiny hamlet 
and the Mississippi river was, practically, 
the western frontier boundary. Nobly and 
faithfully did she perform the duties which 
fell to her share, not only as a wife and 
mother and neighbor, but also as one of the 
founders of the future prosperity and civiliza- 
tion of the county and state. 

The birth of Mrs. Burr occurred in New 
Hampshire, December 20, 1820. Though 
now in her eightieth year, she possesses 
unusual vigor and strength of mind and 
body, and her accounts of her early experi- 
ences in this new country are highly enter- 
taining. She was one of the five children 
and is the only survivor in the family. Her 
father died in 1827, in Portsmouth, New 
Hampshire, and her mother passed to the 
better land in 1S69. 

The marriage of Captain James M. Burr 



and oursubject occurred in New Hampshire, 
August 22, 1840. He had followed the 
high seas for a number of years prior to that 
event, but at last had concluded to establish 
a home in the west. Prior to his marriage 
he had made a western trip and had located 
a tract of land near the present town of 
Como, also building a small cabin, which 
sheltered his family for many years after 
their arrival here. Mr. l^urr was a son of 
Martin and Eunice (Turner) Burr, who were 
married in Boston, Massachusetts. The 
father died November 19, 1846, and the 
mother survived until August, 1855. They 
were the parents of nine children. Martin 
Burr was a member of the Masonic order, 
belonging to the blue lodge. In religion he 
was a Congregationalist, while, politically, 
he was a Whig. His father and uncle, 
natives of England, came to the United 
States in the early part of this century. 

For some thirty years. Captain and Mrs. 
Burr continued to dwell upon their com- 
fortable homestead in Hopkins township, 
and there all of their children were born. 
The death of their first-born, James Madi- 
son, who died in infancy, was the first 
event of the kind in Como. Their eldest 
daughter, Adeline E., became the wife of 
David Davis, and after his death she was 
united in marriage with Colonel Wharton J. 
Green, who had won his title in the Confed- 
erate army, and who then, as now, makes 
his home in North Carolina. Eunice T., 
deceased, was the wife of Charles N. Mun- 
son, and the mother of two sons and one 
daughter. Subsequent to her death, Mr. 
Munson re-married, and with his wife, two 
sons and daughter, is now living in Kansas 
City. Hetty B., of Marshalltown, Iowa, 
married Charles Heitshu, of Pennsylvania, 
and had two sons, one of whom survives.. 



456 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Charles M., who married Mary Bowles, and 
has one daughter, resides in the beautiful 
city of Los Angeles, California. J. Ellery, 
of Sterling, Illinois, chose Lucy Partridge 
for his wife, and their home is blessed by 
two sons and two daughters. William T. , 
whose home is in Como, married Mary 
Wilkinson, and has two sons and a daugh- 
ter. 

In all his relations in life. Captain Burr 
was upright and loyal to high principles. 
For some time prior to his death, he was 
identified with the Odd Fellows society at 
Como, and in his political creed he was a 
stalwart Republican. He retired from the 
active labors of an agriculturist, and thence- 
forth made his abode in Como, where he 
was ranked among the most honored and 
representative citizens. In 1890 he and his 
beloved wife celebrated their golden wed- 
ding anniversary. It was a truly memora- 
ble occasion, one not easily forgotten by 
any of the participants. Most of the im- 
mediate relatives of the venerable couple 
were present, and beautiful souvenirs came 
to them from the Pacific and Atlantic 
coasts, from the north and the south. Since 
the death of the Captain, on the loth of 
October, 1891, Mrs. Burr has resided with 
her children, passing the winter at the home 
of her daughter, Mrs. Green, in North Caro- 
lina, while the rest of the year she resides, 
as for sixty years past, in Como, where 
cling the associations of almost a life-time. 



HARLOW SMITH, a well known and 
prominent farmer residing on section 
34, Hume township, Whiteside county, 
Illinois, has for over half a century been 
identified with the agricultural interests of 
the county and has been an important fac- 



tor in its upbuilding and development. He 
was born near Toronto, Canada, May 18, 
1830, and is a son of William and Anna 
(Sutherland) Smith, who were born, reared 
and married in Vermont, and from that state 
removed to Canada, where the father en- 
gaged in farming throughout the remainder 
of his life. 

On leaving the Dominion, in the spring of 
1849, Mr. Smith came to Whiteside county, 
Illinois, and found work with Warner 
Brothers at Prophetstown. For three years 
he engaged in teaming, mostly to Peru, and 
in the meantime purchased a horse-power 
threshing machine, which he operated during 
the threshing season for some years. Later 
he purchased one of the first steam thresh- 
ers in the county, and has successfully en- 
gaged in the threshing business in season for 
forty-nine years. In early days he also 
broke prairie with o.x teams for a number of 
jears. He has also devoted considerable 
time in breeding and raising a fine grade of 
Hambletonian horses and at the present 
time has about si.xty head of high grade 
horses on hand. 

In Lyndon, this county, December 3, 
1854, Mr. Smith was united in marriage 
with Miss Louisa Pope, who was born near 
Spaulding in Lincolnshire, England, and is 
a sister of Aaron and Thomas Pope, who 
are presented elsewhere in this volume. They 
began their domestic life in the village of 
Prophetstown, where they made their home 
for one year, and then rented a farm adjoin- 
ing Mr. Smith's place. Our subject's first 
purchase consisted of eighty acres of wild 
land in Tampico township, which he fenced, 
broke and improved with good buildings, but 
after residing thereon for about five years, 
he removed to his present farm on section 
34, where he has two hundred acres, on 



The biographical record. 



4S? 



which at that time was only a small house, 
while much of the land was still in its primi- 
tive condition. To its further improvement 
and cultivation he has since devoted his 
energies with most gratifying results. He 
has a pleasant residence, good barns and 
other outbuildings, surrounded by forest and 
fruit trees, and everything about the place 
betokens the thrift and enterprise of the 
owner and shows conclusively that he 
thoroughly understands the occupation 
which he has chosen as his life work. He 
has bought, improved and sold several farms, 
and besides his home place, he now owns a 
valuable farm of two hundred and twelve 
acres in Tampico township. 

Mr. and Mrs. Smith have a family of 
si.x children, namely: Carrie L. , now the 
wife of Fred Brown, of Hume township; Ida 
J., wife of R. B. Smith, of Prophetstown; 
Sarah Ella, wife of James Farrell, of Proph- 
etstown; William N., a prominent Repub- 
lican and one of the township officers, and 
correspondent of the agricultural bureau, 
residing at home; Minnie E., wife of Dr. 
T. L. Rounds of Tampico; and Herbert H., 
who is married and engaged in the livery 
business in Erie. Our subject and his wife 
have also reared and educated two other 
children. 

The Republican party has always found 
in Mr. Smith a stanch supporter of its prin- 
ciples, and although he has never sought 
nor desired public office, he has been called 
upon to serve as commissioner of highways, 
and school director for fifteen years. He 
has acquired a handsome competence through 
his own well-directed and energetic efforts 
and has not only advanced his individual 
prosperity but has also materially promoted 
the general welfare by transforming the 
wild land into highly cultivated fields and 

26 



converting the county into one of the best 
agricultural districts of the state. As a 
valued and useful citizen of the community 
he is well worth}' of prominent mention in 
a work of this character. 



HENRY C. LANDIS, a successful agri- 
culturist residing on section 23, Co- 
loma township, who devotes the greater 
part of his attention to market gardening, 
and is the owner of a good farm of eighty- 
seven acres on sections 23 and 26, was born 
in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, May 6, 
1833, a son of A. N. and Maria (Pickle) 
Landis, also natives of that county, where 
the father followed the occupation of farm- 
ing in early life. In 1847 he came with his 
family to Whiteside county, Illinois, and 
purchased land in Sterling township, where 
he improved a good farm of one hundred 
and forty acres. He continued to actively 
engage in agricultural pursuits as long as 
his health permitted and then removed to 
Sterling, where he lived retired until called 
from this life. There his wife also died. 
They were consistent members of the 
Menonite church, and were highly esteemed 
by all who knew them. 

In their family were the following chil- 
dren: Elmina, who married H. B. Stillman 
and died, leaving one daughter, Harriet, 
wife of James Stitzel, of Nelson; Nancy, 
who married Henry Shelters, of Iowa, and 
they have one son, Abraham; Mary, de- 
ceased wife of R. A. Getts; Henry C, our 
subject; Lizzie, wife of Henry Feather, 
both of whom died leaving three children, 
Lorenzo, Mary and Lizzie; Harriet, wife of 
John McKinstry.of Nelson, Illinois; Abraham, 
a resident of Nelson, who is married and has 
four children, E\a, Grace, Maude and 



458 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Harry; John, of Chicago, who is married 
and has two sons, Walter and LesUe; and 
Benjamin, of St. Paul, Minnesota, who is 
married and has one son, Clyde. 

Henry C. Landis began his education in 
the public schools of his native state, and 
in 1847 accompanied his parents on their 
emigration to this county, where he worked 
on his father's farm until he attained his 
majority. Returning to Lancaster county, 
Pennsylvania, he was there married, in 
1859, to Miss Melinda Summey, who was 
born there, in 1840. Her parents, Daniel 
and Anna (Frick) Summey, came to White- 
side county in 1865, and spent their last 
days in Sterling, where the father worked 
at the tailor's trade on first coming to the 
county. His wife was an earnest member 
of the Congregational church. Of their five 
children, one died in infancy and one at the 
age of nineteen years. Those living are 
Melinda, wife of our subject; Anna, wife of 
S. W. Bard, of Pennsylvania; and Clayton, 
a resident of Chicago, who is married and 
has two children, Edna and Dorothy. 

After his marriage, Mr. Landis returned 
to Whiteside county, and after successfully 
operating a rented farm in Sterling town- 
ship for four years, he purchased his present 
place in Coloma township, upon which he 
has made many useful and valuable im- 
provements, including the erection of two 
houses, barns and other outbuildings. He 
has engaged in general farming on a small 
scale but devotes the greater part of his 
time and attention to truck gardening, in 
which he has met with marked success. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Landis were born 
seven children, of whom three died when 
young. The others are as follows: (ij Will- 
iam, a traveling salesman of Melrose Park, 
married Bertha Fowler and they have six 



children: Ralph, Hallie, William, Arthur, 
Byron and Walter. (2) Ada is the wife of 
Walter Fox, of Chicago, a salesman in a 
music store, and they have two children, 
Harry and Zella. (3) Grant, who lives on 
the home farm, married Anna Dickson, and 
they have three children, Helen, Chester 
and Grant. (4) May is the deceased wife of 
Daniel Brown, of Beardstown, Illinois, who 
was in the employ of a railroad company. 

Mr. Landis cast his first presidential vote 
for John C. Fremont, and has ever since 
been an ardent supporter of the Republican 
party, always taking a deep and commend- 
able interest in public affairs and doing all in 
his power to insure the success of his party. 
He filled the office of road commissioner for 
some time. Both he and his wife are active 
and prominent members of the Methodist 
Episcopal church of Rock Falls, of which 
he is one of the trustees, and are held in 
high regard by all who know them. 



SIDNEY BARBER, deceased, was num- 
bered among the honored pioneers of 
Whiteside county, who settled here when 
this locality was a wild and unimproved re- 
gion. In the work of development he took 
an active part and aided in opening up the 
country to civilization. As the years passed 
he faithfully performed his duties of citizen- 
ship and his interest in the welfare and prog- 
ress of the community never abated. Be- 
coming widely and favorably known, he 
made many friends, and his death was a 
loss to the entire community. 

Mr. Barber was born in Pawnai, Ver- 
mont, May 5, 1815, and was one of the first 
settlers of Whiteside county, having located 
herein 1839. He purchased a tract of gov- 
ernment land on the Dixon road east of 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



459 



Rock Falls, where he engaged in farming 
and stock raising, it being the farm now 
owned by Charles Hey. In 1849 he crossed 
the plains with an ox team to California, 
but failing in his quest for gold, he returned 
to Illinois and resumed the occupation of 
farming upon the place he had previously 
purchased, which continued to be his home 
until 1865. During that year he bought a 
farm near Round Grove and lived there un- 
til 1875, when he retired from labor and 
moved to Rock Falls to spend the remainder 
of his life in ease and quiet, enjoying the 
fruits of a life of thrift and industry. 

On the 4th of June, 1840, Mr. Barber 
was united in marriage with Miss Sophia 
Martin, of Prophetstown, Illinois, and to 
them were born three daughters, namely: 
(i) Frances was married October 30, 1862, 
to Theodore Jenkins, now a prominent un- 
dertaker of Beaumont, California, to which 
state they removed in 18S2, after having 
lived in Sterling, Illinois. They have three 
children, all born in Sterling: ElBeda, born 
May 22, 1875; Ruth, born November 13, 
1876; and Arthur, born March 4^ f88[. (2) 
Edna, born in Rock Falls, is the wife of 
William E. Curtis, an enterprising business 
man of that place, where he conducts a liv- 
ery stable, and they have four children; 
Elmer, Arthur, Sidney and George W. (A 
sketch of Mr. Curtis is given on another 
page of this volume.) (3) Ada, born in 
Rock Falls, is the wife of Joseph Wright, a 
traveling salesman for agricultural imple- 
ments and a respected citizen of Rock Falls. 
Their family consists of Sidney, who was 
born in Rock Falls and is now twelve years 
of age; and Fred, who is a son of Mr. 
Wright by a former marriage. 

Mr. Barber died in Rock Falls on Sat- 
urday, April 15, 1899. He was a man of 



strong character, who during a long life of 
almost eighty-five years never tasted either 
tobacco or alcoholic stimulants as a bever- 
age. While not identified with any church 
organization, his life was his religion, and 
he believed that a man should be judged by 
his acts, not by his professions. He left to 
his family and many friends the memory of 
a noble life, never to be effaced, a life of 
honesty, industry, patience and hope. He 
was very much interested in the study of 
natural history, and his pleasant home on 
the corner of East Second street and Avenue 
B, where his widow still resides, contains a 
large collection of shells and minerals of 
great worth and beauty. Mrs. Barber, who 
is also much interested in concology, made 
an exhibit of her collection of shells at the 
World's Columbian Exposition at Chicago 
in 1893, and was presented with a testi- 
monial of merits by the Illinois Woman's 
Exposition lioard. 



JOHN ESLINGER, a well-known and 
successful farmer who owns and oper- 
ates one hundred and fifty-nine acres of land 
on section i, Ustick township, was born in 
Baden, Germany, March 11, 1843, a son of 
Jacob and Katie (Buehler) Eslinger, also 
natives of Baden. The father, who was a 
prosperous farmer, died there when our sub- 
ject was only nine years old, leaving two 
children, the younger being George, still a 
farmer of Baden. For her second husband 
the mother married George Arnold, by whom 
she had four daughters, but only one of 
them, Christina, came to America, and she 
died near Empire, Whiteside county, Illi- 
nois, in 1880. The mother departed this 
life in 1863. 

John Eslinger received his education in 



460 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



the schools of his native land, and at the 
age of twenty years entered the German 
army. He was in the standing army for 
two years, and altogether was in the mili- 
tary service of his country for four years. 
Before coming to the United States he mar- 
ried Miss Barbara Werley, who was born 
near Baden in 1839, and to them have been 
born ten children, one of whom died in in- 
fancy while the family were crossing the 
ocean to the New World. Annie is the 
wife of William Croon, who lives on a farm 
adjoining our subject's place, and they had 
three children, two of whom died from 
poisoning in August, 1899, George being 
the only survivor. Lizzie is the wife of 
Elmer Broom, a farmer of Clyde township, 
and they have three children, Aaron, Vernie 
and Milford. Lena is the wife of James 
Green, a farmer of Ustick township, and 
they have one son. William assists his 
father in the operation of the home farm. 
Susie resides at home. Mary and Christina 
are now in Sterling. Katie is at home with 
her parents. Matthias, the oldest of the 
family, was born in Germany, and on reach- 
ing manhood joined the United States regu- 
lar army, with which he served for three 
years or until the expiration of his term of 
enlistment. Later he worked as a black- 
smith in the employ of the government in 
Arizona, and there contracted a disease, 
from which he died on Easter Sunday, 1 894. 
One year after his marriage, in 1869, 
Mr. Eslinger, with his little family, sailed 
for America, and on landing in this country 
came direct to Ustick township, Whiteside 
county, Illinois, where he worked as a 
laborer for three years. Subsequently he 
operated rented land near Coleta for one 
year, and then moved to a farm near Ster- 
ling, belonging to Peter Bressler, and con- 



ducted that place with marked success for 
four years, at which place he met with quite 
a loss, having all his personal effects 
destroyed by fire. He then purchased 
eighty acres of land in Ustick township. 
He made a number of improvements upon 
his farm, but after living there for five years 
he sold it and bought another of one hundred 
and sixty acres, where he now lives, paying 
for the same forty-eight dollars per acre. 
He has erected thereon good and substantial 
buildings, making for himself a comfortable 
home in his old age. He carries on general 
farming, but makes a specialty of stock- 
raising, keeping principally hogs, to which 
he feeds most of the grain raised on his 
farm. He is one of the representative men 
and successful farmers of his township, is 
highly respected by all who know him, and 
is a member of the New Menonite church, 
to which his wife also belongs. 



WILLIAM H. MIDDAGH is one who 
has met with many difficulties and 
obstacles in the path of success, but by 
determined purpose and indefatigable energy 
has steadily worked his way upward and is 
now the owner of one of the good farms of 
Whiteside county, having sixty acres of land 
on section 32, Coloma township. He is 
one of the worthy sons of Illinois that New 
York has furnished to the Prairie state, his 
birth having occurred in Ulster county, of 
the Empire state, on the 25th of January, 
1825. His father, Jacob H. Middagh, was 
a miller by trade, and in connection with 
his industrial pursuits he carried on general 
farming. He, too, was a native of Ulster 
county, and there married Catherine Win- 
chell, who was born in that county and was 
of German lineage. They became the 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



461 



parents of three sons and two daughters, all 
of whom reached years of maturity, namely: 
Lemuel, who died in New York; Susan, wife 
of Isaiah Oakley, a resident of Broome 
county. New York; William H. ; De Witt, 
who entered the Union army in the Civil 
war and died of measles contracted in the 
service; and Mary, deceased wife of David 
Thurston. The parents have also passed 
away, both dying in the Empire state, 
where they spent their entire lives. 

In the early schools of New York, 
William H. Middagh obtained his education, 
making his home under the parental roof 
until his marriage. During the period of 
his youth he also learned the miller's trade, 
which he followed for a number of years. 
In October, 1846, he wedded Susie E. 
Brooks, who was born in New Jersey, in 
1826. Her parents were also natives of 
that state and in their family were three 
children: Lewis, who is living in New 
York; Mrs. Middagh; and Mary, wife of 
Peter Elmendorf. The parents of this fam- 
ily died in New York, where the father 
carried on farming. The marriage of Mr. 
and Mrs. Middagh has been blessed with 
five children: John, who died at the age of 
nine years; Sylvester, who is living with his 
father; Ella, wife of William Stewart, of 
Binghamton, New York, by whom she has 
three sons, Frank, Roy and Charles; Ida, 
wife of Warren Murray, by whom she has 
a son, Roy, who is living in Coloma town- 
ship; Horatio, who resides in Texas and has 
three children. 

After his marriage, William H. Middagh 
of this review purchased the mill and farm 
belonging to his father and carried on the 
dual business for a number of years, meet- 
ing with good success. He then sold the 
property and removed to Broome county, 



New York, where he purchased one hundred 
acres of timber land, which he cleared and 
improved, transforming the property into a 
valuable farm. He erected thereon good 
barns and outbuildings and a comfortable 
residence and by well-kept fences divided 
the place into fields of convenient size, in 
each of which was a spring. 

In 1866 Mr. Middagh arrived in White- 
side county and purchased eighty acres of 
land, — the farm upon which he now resides. 
In addition to this he has also operated 
rented land. At one time he suffered a loss 
of two thousand dollars, his hogs dying of 
disease, and also lost some valuable horses 
and fourteen colts in this way. In the face 
of difficulties, however, he has persevered 
and is to-day one of the substantial farmers 
of the community, and he well merits the 
success that has come to him. In politics 
he is a Democrat, and his wife belongs to 
the Christian church. In Whiteside county 
he has a wide acquaintance, and is held in 
high esteem for his sterling worth. 



CHARLES H. PAYSON, deceased, was 
for many years one of the best known 
and most highly esteemed citizens of Rock 
Falls, with whose industrial and business 
interests he was prominently identified. He 
was born in Ulster, Bradford county, Penn- 
sylvania, June 14, 1819, and was a son of 
William and Betsy (Cranse) Payson, natives 
of Connecticut and Pennsylvania, respect- 
ively. He was the second in order of birth 
in their family of six children, only two of 
whom are now living. William C, a 
farmer by occupation, died in Missouri; 
Emily is the widow of John Owens, of To- 
wanda, Pennsjlvania, and has six children, 
three children by her first husband, Peter 



462 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Osborne; Sarah is the wife of Lewis Ilette, 
a retired carpenter of Chicago, and they 
have two children, Emily and William; and 
Edward is a retired farmer of Owego, New 
York. 

Our subject was reared and educated in 
Waverly, New York, and there he was 
married, August 15, 184S, to Miss Mary A. 
Russell, a daughter of Jacob H. and Polly 
(Dunn) Russell, of Pennsylvania. Her fa- 
ther, a harness maker by trade, was born in 
1796, and died in Factory ville, New York, 
August 28, 1S72, and her mother was born 
in Pennsylvania, April 12, 1802, and also 
died in Factory ville, in February, 1842. 
In their family were six children, two of 
whom besides Mrs. Payson are now living. 
They were as follows: Jacob P., born in 
1823, lives in Nebraska. John O., born 
October 29, 1828, died in Milledgeville, 
Illinois, January I, 1898. He married Eme- 
line Johnson, and to them were born four 
children, Leila, Walter, Mary and Emilo. 
Elizabeth A., born August 25, 1839, is the 
wife of T. Jefferson Smith, an express mes- 
senger of Antioch, Illinois. Charles H., 
born July 9, 1834, followed the trade of a 
harness maker and died June 18, 1855, un- 
married. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Payson were born the 
following children: Charles Edgar, born 
January 21, 1850, is a machinist in Chi- 
cago. He is married and has six children 
living, and one deceased. Harry E., 
born September 3, 1853, is engaged in the 
cigar and tobacco business in Chicago and 
is also a telegraph operator. He was mar- 
ried, October 18, 1882, to Mertie M. Saw- 
yer, of that city. Lizzie E., wife of Hon. 
J. W. White, a prominent attorney of Rock 
Falls, was born October 23, 1854, and died 
January 30, 1893, leaving three children 



all born in Rock Falls, namely: Mary 
Bessie, Leo Payson and Ralph M. Frank 
R., born April 19, 1862, is a fireman living 
in Mankato, Minnesota. 

After his marriage, Mr. Payson contin- 
ued to reside in New York state for a num- 
ber of years, four of his children being born 
there. He carried on business as a car- 
riage manufacturer in New York until Feb- 
ruary 22, 1865, when he came west and 
first located in Sterling, Illinois, but a year 
later removed to Rock Falls, where the 
family still reside, occupying one of the 
finest homes in the city, which was erected 
by our subject soon after locating here. 
He became one of the most prominent busi- 
ness men of the city, and was extensively 
engaged in the manufacture of carriages for 
many years. 

His death, which occurred September 
7, 1893, was the result of a cancer, compli- 
cated with other diseases, from which he 
had suffered from 1882. He was a man of 
influence and stood high in the community 
where he had so long made his home. He 
was widely known and very popular with 
every one. He was noted for his strict in- 
tegrity and incorruptible honor, and though 
he was never a member of any church he 
was a regular attendant of the Methodist 
church and a close follower of the princi- 
ples of moralit}'. In all the relations of 
life he was found true to every trust reposed 
in him, and it is safe to say that no man in 
Rock Falls had more friends or was more 
highly respected than Charles H. Payson. 



M 



RS. MARGARET W. DEETS. 

Nearly forty-five years have rolled 
away since Mrs. Margaret Deets came to 
W'hiteside county, and now, after many 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



463 



years of such hardships and privations as 
only the pioneers know, she is passinj^ the 
evening time of her life surrounded by the 
comforts and privileges which were beyond 
her reach in her young womanhood. 

She comes of the sturdy old patriotic 
stock which laid the foundations of this 
great republic, "building better than they 
knew." Her paternal great-grandfather, 
who owned two large l^our-mills in Pennsyl- 
vania, taxed his mills to their utmost capac- 
ity, grinding grain to be made into bread 
for the army of Washington. On one occa- 
sion, when his son, the grandfather of Mrs. 
Deets, then a youth of seventeen, was en- 
gaged in driving a large team of horses, 
hauling supplies for the army, a squad of 
British soldiers attacked him, and though 
he managed to escape, seven bullet-holes 
were found in the wagon-bed. The mother 
of the young patriot did all within her 
power for the cause of the colonists, and it 
was not until blindness afflicted her that she 
ceased to bake bread for the army. The 
parents of Mrs. Deets were John and Mar- 
garet (Keece) Wetzel, natives of Franklin 
county, Pennsylvania, and Maryland, re- 
spectively. They removed to Summit coun- 
ty, Ohio, later to Stark county, same state, 
and at length came to Whiteside county. 

Mrs. Deets is one of thirteen children, 
she being ne.xt to the youngest: Catherine, 
born August 4, 181 3, married Henry Wy- 
mer, and both are deceased. They had 
two children, both of whom have passed 
away. Polly died in infancy. Daniel, 
born September 2, 18 15, and now a resi- 
dent of Rock Falls, Illinois, married Mary 
Beidler, September 15, 1S39, and they have 
six children. Jacob, born December 12, 
1 8 16, wedded Susan Beidler, in 1842, and 
with their si.\ children live in Genesee town- 



ship. John, a resident of .Michigan, was 
born May 29, 1818, and chose Camilla 
Ward for his wife. They are the parents 
of four sons. George, born January 18, 
1820, married Mary Linerode, F"ebruary 17, 
1849, and two daughters were born to 
them. The wife and mother died Septem- 
ber 18, 1854, and Mr. Wetzell makes his 
home with his niece, Mrs. Scott, in Rock 
Falls, Illinois. His daughters are married 
and have children. Elizabeth, born August 
17, 1 82 1, became the wife of Cyrus Hart- 
ing. She departed this life many years 
ago, and left several children. David R. , 
born April 7, 1823, never married, and 
died September 15, 1894. Andrew, born 
March 18, 1825, married Sarah Ward, and 
had four children. He has passed to his 
reward, while his widow resides in Stark 
county, Ohio. Joseph, born December 9. 
1827, married Ellen McKien. Seven chil- 
dren were born to them, and Mr. ^^'etzel 
now resides with his son Thomas. Han- 
nah, born June 5, 1829, became the wife of 
Lewis Spots, and of their several children, 
five survive, the others dying in infancy. 
Their home is in Lee county, Missouri. 
Lewis, born June 3, 1837, wedded Mary 
Lawyer, March 25, 1S58, and they had four 
children. The parents are citizens of Gait, 
Whiteside count}', having retired from their 
life-work, farming. 

The birth of Mrs. Margaret (Wetzel) 
Deets took place on the 7th of December, 
1831, in Summit county, Ohio. She was 
a babe of two months when her parents re- 
moved to Stark county, same state. In 
1855 she came to Whiteside county, and 
the following year became the wife of Louis 
Deets, who was a thrifty farmer of Hop- 
kins township. The young couple were 
economical and rapidly made progress to- 



464 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ward a competence, but, when the war of 
the Rebellion came on, the patriotic hus- 
band left his plow and went to the defense 
of the Union, his brave wife bidding him 
God-speed. In 1861 he enlisted in the 
Fifty-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and 
served for three years. Later, he resumed 
his regular calling, and continued to devote 
himself to his home and business until his 
death, July 14, 1882. Since that time, his 
widow has carried on the old homestead 
near Emerson, and has enjoyed the same 
measure of success as did her esteemed 
husband in days of yore. 

Twelve children came to bless their 
humble home. The eldest, William Wil- 
son, born December 20, 1857, married Anne 
Engle, August 31, 1881, and is a resident of 
this township. Their two sons, aged four- 
teen and sixteen, are at home. Elizabeth, 
born November 2, 1S61, became the wife of 
Henry Johnson, and is the mother of four 
children. Mr. Johnson, who owns a fine 
ranch of over one thousand acres, situated 
in the state of Washington, is an extensive 
dealer in lumber and grain, also. James 
M., born April 7, 1865, married Olive 
Carolus, and has four children. Their home 
is at Emerson, where Mr. Deets is engaged 
in the trade of a wagon-maker, and, in ad- 
dition to this, owns and operates a large 
farm in this township. Charles T., born 
February 6, 1874, married lona Carolus, 
November 8, 1896, and they have one child 
living, another having died in infancy. He 
is a successful lawyer, of Almira, Washing- 
ton. Four sons and two daughters died in 
infancy; Caroline, born in 1S60, died in 
February, 1S74, and Jennie, born June 6, 
1867, died in 1877. 

In his political faith, Mr. Deets was an 
ardent Republican. He was industrious and 



enterprising, and, besides providing liberal- 
ly for his large family, he left a comfortable 
estate and, what is better, an unblemished 
name and record to his posterity. Relig- 
iously, he was identified with the United 
Brethren church. 



JOHN P. FURRY. More than half a 
century ago John P. Furry came to 
Whiteside county, and during this long 
period, which covers nearly the whole span 
of the county's development from a primi- 
tive state to its present flourishing condition, 
he has been actively interested in its progress. 
A gentleman of much more than ordinary 
information and attainments, he is an inter- 
esting conversationalist, and, as he has 
spent years in traveling and making himself 
familiar with the wonders of his own beauti- 
ful country, he is enthusiastic on the sub- 
ject, as he well may be. His upright course 
in life commands the respect and commen- 
dation of everyone, and his labors as a 
founder of this county justly entitle him to 
a prominent place in its annals. 

The birth of John P. Furry occurred in 
Dutchess county. New York, November 22, 
1 81 7. He is a son of David and Sally 
(Palmateer) Furry, of Washington, New 
York. The mother died when our subject 
was only five years of age, leaving three 
children, of whom Mrs. Annie M. Piatt, now 
four-score years of age, and a childless 
widow, resides in Poughkeepsie, New York. 
Mrs. Cornelia Freer, also a widow, and now 
seventy-eight years of age, has two daugh- 
ters, Cornelia and Mary. She, too, is a 
resident of Poughkeepsie. David Furry 
married again, after the death of our sub- 
ject's mother, but his second wife died 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



465 



within a few years, and he passed into the 
silent land when but thirty-eight years of 
age. 

Thus John 1'. Furry was left an orphan 
at the early age of eleven years. He re- 
ceived a public-school education, and con- 
tinued to reside in New York until 1847, 
when he came to Illinois. Settling in Jor- 
dan township, he engaged in farming for 
about a year, after which he operated a saw- 
mill for two and a half years, and, having 
laid aside a certain amount of capital, in- 
vested it in the farm which he has since 
looked upon as his home. Originally, he 
purchased one hundred acres, at three dol- 
lars an acre, and when he erected his 
humble house on the place, there were no 
other dwellings within sight. This was in 
1853, and, as the years rolled by, great 
changes were made, not only upon his own 
property, which speedily was transformed 
into one of the fin'est farms in the township, 
but the entire locality gradually progressed, 
under the earnest efforts of the pioneers. 
To his first purchase Mr. Furry added land 
at different times — about ninety-five acres 
altogether, but has since disposed of a por- 
tion, and now retains only one hundred and 
thirty-nine acres, this being situated on sec- 
tion 16, Jordan township. 

In 1847 Mr. Furry married Harriet Good- 
enough, who shared his pioneer labors in 
this locality, and was called to the better 
land in 1859. Their eldest child, Mary C, 
became the wife of 01i\er Tolbott, of this 
township, and they have one daughter, Alice. 
George W., a resident of Seattle, Washing- 
ton, and one of the progressive hardware 
merchants of that live city, is married and 
has two daughters, Florence and Mabel, 
and an infant son. He served as a private 
in the One Hundred and Fortieth Illinois 



Infantry during the Civil war. Ella, wife 
of Frank J. Miller, who carries on the old 
homestead, has one daughter, Lottie. Nel- 
lie, who married Fernandus Jacobs, of this 
township, have four children — Hattie, Flor- 
ence, John and Guy. Albert D. and Gil- 
bert S. are deceased. In 1861 Mr. Furry 
married Nancy Hawley, a native of Penn- 
sylvania, and for twenty years they pursued 
the journey of life together, Mrs. Furry 
being summoned to the home beyond the 
river in 1881. 

In his early manhood Mr. Furry met 
with an accident which partially disqualified 
him for arduous undertakings. While en- 
gaged in hauling logs from the woods, one 
of them rolled over upon him, pinioning him 
to the ground and permanently injuring 
him. Since his retirement from the man- 
agement of his farm, in 1885, he has rented 
it to his son-in-law, Mr. Miller, and has 
spent some time in traveling. He has 
crossed the Rocky mountains by four routes, 
has visited all parts of the United States 
and Canada, has voyaged on the Atlantic as 
far south as Florida, and has taken a trip 
on the Pacific to Van Couver's Island. In 
the course of his journeyings he has been in 
thirty-four states and territories, and thus 
is well prepared to judge of the greatness 
and resources of this powerful nation. In 
pioneer days he aided in the laying out of 
highways and other local improvements, and 
has voted at all of the township elections 
for over half a century. During most of 
the time of his residence here he has held 
school offices here, and as assessor, col- 
lector, road commissioner, has discharged 
the duties of each position with zeal and 
efficiency. Originally a Whig, he later 
joined the Republicans, and now is a Pro- 
hibitionist. 



466 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



JOHN R. THOMPSON, deceased, was 
kJ for many years one of the most highly 
esteemed and honored citizens of White- 
side county, where his entire hfe was passed. 
He was born on the old homestead in Port- 
land township, September 15, 1838, a son 
of Robert and Lydia (Graham) Thompson, 
both of whom were natives of Ireland, being 
among the first settlers of the county, hav- 
ing located here in 1836 when this region 
was almost an unbroken wilderness. 

Amid scenes familiar on the frontier, 
John R. Thompson grew to manhood. 
When a boy he resided for a few years with 
his parents in Prophetstown, but the greater 
part of his life was spent on the home farm 
in Portland township, and in the district 
schools of the neighborhood he acquired a 
good practical education. On the 2nd of 
December, 1861, he enlisted as a private 
in Company B, later transferred to Com- 
pany K, Thirty-fourth Illinois \'olunteer 
Infantry, and served his country faithfully 
until December 6, 1862, when he was dis- 
charged on account of disability. He was 
wounded in the left hand at the battle of 
Shiloh, April 6, 1862. In April, 1863, he re- 
enlisted in Company K, Thirty-fourth \'olun- 
teer Infantry, and served until the close of 
the war, when he was honorably discharged 
and returned home to engage in the more 
quiet pursuits of farm life. 

On the loth of May, 1868, in this coun- 
ty, Mr. Thompson was united in marriage 
with Miss Celestia Herman, born in Mar- 
ion, Linn county, Iowa, but who was 
reared and educated in Peru, Illinois. 
When a young man her father, Moses Her- 
man, came to this state, and here married 
Betsy Underwood, a daughter of Lewis 
Underwood, one of the pioneers of White- 
side county. To our subject and wife 



were born four children: Sylvia, now 
the wife of George E. Warner, a farmer of 
Prophetstown township; Graham G., who is 
married and engaged in farming in Portland 
township; Fred J. and Pearl, who are still 
with their mother. 

Mr. and Mrs. Thompson began house- 
keeping on the old Thompson homestead on 
the Rock River bottoms in Portland town- 
ship. He and his brother, H. C, pur- 
chased the home place, which they operated 
together until 1880, when J. R. Thomp- 
son bought his brother's interest and carried 
on the farm alone until September, 1891, 
when he rented it and moved to Prophets- 
town. From time to time he added to his 
land possessions until he had seven hundred 
acres of fine farming land, upon which he 
erected a commodious and pleasant resi- 
dence, good barns and outbuildings and 
made many other improvements which added 
to the value and attractive appearance of 
the place. He was one of the most pro- 
gressive, enterprising and energetic agri- 
culturists of his community. He gave con- 
siderable attention to stock raising, and was 
the first to introduce pure blooded short 
horn cattle into the township; of which he 
afterward made a specialty. He purchased 
the first McCormick harvester and bmder 
in the township. He was a hard worker 
and success crowned his well-directed ef- 
fort. 

On account of ill health, Mr. Thompson 
spent his last years in retirement, and he 
died at his home in Prophetstown, January 
20, 1899, being laid to rest in the cemetery 
at that place, his comrades of the G. A. R. 
post having charge of the interment. Polit- 
ically he was a stanch Democrat, and 
fraternally was an active and prominent 
member of John A. Parrott post. No. 543, 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



467, 



G. A. R. , and a member of the Masonic 
lodge, of Propfietstown. He was faithful 
to his country and to his friends, and in his 
home was a most exemplary husband and 
father. His death occasioned the deepest 
regret throughout the community, and 
Whiteside county thereby lost one of its 
valued citizens. 



BENJAMIN F. BOYNTON, deceased, 
who was for many years an honored 
and trusted employe of the Chicago, Burl- 
ington & Quincy Railroad and a highly re- 
spected citizen of Rock Falls, was born in 
Grass Lake, Michigan, September 26, 1837, 
and was a son of Zerah and Permelia (Buss) 
Boynton, both natives of Vermont. In 
1834 the father removed to Michigan and 
settled at Grass Lake, where he became a 
prosperous farmer. 

Our subject was reared upon his father's 
farm and remained there until about nine- 
teen years of age, when he entered the em- 
ploy of the Chicago, Burlington cV Quincy 
Railroad Company, with which he was con- 
nected until his death, with the e.xception 
of a lew years spent with the Lake Shore 
& Michigan Southern Railroad. On leav- 
ing their employ he moved to Aurora, Illi- 
nois, and again entered the service of the 
Chicago, Burlington & Ouincy Railroad. 
After living there about two years, he came 
to Rock Falls in 1873, and continued to 
make this place his home until his death, 
which occurred April 25, 1899. For a 
short time he was in the employ of the 
Michigan Central and the Chicago & West 
Michigan Railroad Companies, but through- 
out his railroad career, he was mostly con- 
nected with the Chicago, Burlington & 
Quincy Road. He rose from a humble po- 



sition to that of conductor on passenger 
trains, holding the latter position for a 
quarter of a century to the entire satisfac- 
tion of the company and many patrons of 
the road, for he was a popular, genial man 
who made many friends. 

On the 25th of December, 1861, in 
Chicago, Mr. Boynton was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Sarah Petrie, a daughter of 
Charles and Lusina (Allard) Petrie, of that 
city, and by this union four children were 
born, namely: (i) Charles Z. , born in 
Grass Lake, Michigan, was killed near 
Freeport, Illinois, October 8, 1893, while 
employed on the railroad as fireman. He 
married Miss Emma Palmer, who with her 
two children, Elsie and Franklin, reside in 
.Grass Lake, Michigan. (2) Fannie is the 
wife of Amos K. Frey, of Rock Falls, who 
is in the employ of the government as sur- 
veyor on the canal. He is a son of Henry 
and Lizzie (Ivreider) Frey, of Jordan town- 
ship, and is the youngest in a family of 
eleven children, all of whom are living. 
The other two children of our subject died 
in infancy. 

Mr. Boynton was a consistent and faith- 
ful member of the Congregational church, 
and belonged to the Knights Templar, the 
Ancient Order of United Workmen and the 
Conductors' Relief & Aid Society. Politic- 
ally he was a Republican, but never took 
an active part in political affairs aside from 
voting. He was held in high regard by all 
who knew him and had many friends in his 
adopted county. 



CHARLES STURTZ. For almost a 
third of a century, Mr. Sturtz has re- 
sided in Whiteside county, and during this 
time has been actively connected with its 



468 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



agricultural and stock raising interests. He 
is to-day the owner of one hundred and six- 
ty acres of land on section 12, Montmorency 
township, and well-tilled fields and substan- 
tial improvements of the place indicate his 
careful supervision and enterprise. As he 
is widely and favorably known in this local- 
ity, the record of his life cannot fail to prove 
of interest to many of our readers, and it is 
therefore with pleasure that we prepare his 
history for publication. 

Mr. Sturtz was born July 6, 1837, in 
Somerset county, Pennsylvania, and is a 
son of John and Rebecca (Beale) Sturtz. 
The father was born in Bucks county, Penn- 
sylvania, December 17, 1799, and there fol- 
lowed farming during the greater part of his 
life. His wife was born in Somerset coun- 
ty, in 1 805, and both have now passed away, 
the former having been called to the home 
beyond in 1868, the latter in 1883. Both 
were members of the Reformed church, and 
the father was of German lineage. In their 
family were fourteen children, five of whom 
died in childhood. The others are Cath- 
erine, who resided in Pennsylvania until her 
death; Herman, a resident of Montmorency 
township, Whiteside county; Margaret, who 
died in Pennsylvania; Christina, wife of 
James Close, of Pennsylvania, by whom she 
has eight children; Susan, wife of J. L. 
Kendall, of Pennsylvania, by whom she has 
twelve children; Charles; Noah, a farmer of 
Iowa; John E., a miner and farmer of Ohio; 
and Louisa, wife of Enoch Long, proprie- 
tor of a confectionery store of Rock Falls. 

Charles Sturtz acquired his education in 
the public schools and when about twenty 
years of age began teaching. In 1862 he 
entered the Union army as a member of 
Company H, One Hundred and Seventy- 
first Pennsylvania Infantry, in which he 



served for ten months with the rank of first 
sergeant. He was also in several sharp 
skirmishes. In 1863 he returned home and 
worked upon a farm until 1865, when he re- 
enlisted, becoming a member of Company 
D, Third Maryland Regiment of Home 
Guards. At the close of the war he re- 
turned home and worked with his father 
until 1868, when he came with his family, 
having in the meantime married, to White- 
side county. Here he operated rented land 
for four years, when, with the capital he 
had acquired through his own efforts, he 
purchased a farm of his own. He has since 
carried on general farming, and has also fed 
cattle for the market, shipping about four 
carloads annually for the past eight years. 
This has added materially to his income 
and made him one of the well-to-do farmers 
of the community. 

In 1859 was celebrated the marriage of 
Mr. Sturtz and Miss Catherine Kendall, who 
was born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, 
in 1839, a daughter of Samuel and Eliza- 
beth (River) Kendall, who were also natives 
of Somerset county, and were the parents 
of si.x children, Mrs. Sturz being the eldest. 
The others are Hannah, now deceased; 
Jesse; Joseph; Samuel and Jonathan. 
P'ourteen children have been born to Mr. 
and Mrs. Sturtz: Oscar L. , a photographer 
of South Bend, Indiana, who is married and 
has two children. Hazel and Lucile; Charles 
E. , an attorney of I^ewaunee, Illinois, who 
has one daughter, Zola; Alice, wife of Her- 
man Baughman.an employe of the American 
Express Company in Dixon, Illinois, by 
whom she has three children, Clyde, Lula 
and Esther; Wilson, who is living in Dixon; 
Martha, wife of Arthur Emmett, of Nelson, 
Illinois, by whom she has twin daughters, 
Edith and Ethel; Grant, who was married 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



469 



in 1898 and is practicing dentistry in 
Marinette, Wisconsin; Louis, who is mar- 
ried and is a photographer of Green Bay, 
Wisconsin; Herman, a member of the class 
of 1900 in the Chicago Dental College; 
Lawrence, who is working for his father; 
Cora, Edward, LeRoy and Harry, who are 
under the parental roof; and one who died 
in infancy. The parents are members of 
the Lutheran church of Sterling. In politics 
Mr. Sturtz is an advocate of Republican 
principles, and has served as assessor for a 
number of years, also acceptably filled the 
positions of school director and trustee. 
When in Pennsylvania he was justice for the 
peace for some time and has in all these 
positions discharged his duties in a very 
prompt and reliable manner. Socially he 
is connected with the Grand Army for the 
Republic, with the Modern Woodmen of 
America, and the Royal Neighbors of Mont- 
morency, and is to-day as true to his duties 
of citizenship as when he followed the stars 
and stripes upon the battle fields of the 
south. 



YORK EDDY was for many years prom- 
inently identified with the agricultural 
interests of Whiteside county, but is now 
living a retired life in Erie. Throughout 
his career of continued and far-reaching use- 
fulness his duties have been performed with 
the greatest care, and business interests 
have been so managed as to win him the 
confidence of the public and the pros- 
perity which should always attend honor- 
able effort. 

Mr. Eddy was born in Oneida county, 
New York, September 5, 1831, a son of 
Augustus and Olive Eddy. The father was 
a native of Vermont and a farmer by occu- 



pation. He came to Illinois in 1835, and 
in 1854 took up his residence in this county, 
where he continued to make his home un- 
til called from this life, in 1889. The wife 
and mother died in 1863. They had six 
children, namely: Lousina and Philena, 
both deceased; Lorenzo, a resident of Col- 
orado; York, our subject; and Calista and 
Noble, both deceased. 

Mr. Eddy, whose name introduces this 
sketch, remained under the parental roof 
until his marriage, which was celebrated 
Januar}' ij , 1853, Miss Louisa D. Newton 
becoming his wife. She was born in Onei- 
da county. New York, October i, 1833, a 
daughter of Marshall Newton. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Eddy have been born eleven children, 
of whom the eldest is deceased. The oth- 
ers are Ai, Seth, Nellie, Clarence, Laura, 
Seward, Lloyd, Newell, Dana and Lottie, 
seven of whom are married and have fam- 
ilies of their own. 

Mr. and Mrs. Eddy began their domes- 
tic life in Du Page county, Illinois, where 
they lived for about a year and a half and 
then came to Whiteside county, locating in 
Erie township, where he purchased four 
hundred and ten acres of land, which he 
converted into one of the most desirable 
farms of that region. With the exception 
of a year or two, he gave his entire time 
and attention to the cultivation and im- 
provement of his farm until 1891, when he 
removed to Erie and has since lived retired. 
While on the farm he made a specialty of 
stockraising and in that industry he met 
with most gratifying success. 

During the dark days of the Civil war, 
Mr. Eddy manifested his patriotism by en- 
listing, in October, 1862, as a private in 
Company I, Seventy-fifth Illinois Volunteer 
Infantry, and remained in the service a lit- 



470 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



tie over a year, when he was discharged on 
account of ill health. He casts his ballot 
with the Republican party, and gives his 
support to those measures which he believes 
will prove of public benefit. Wherever 
known he is held in high regard, and those 
who know him best are numbered among 
his warmest friends. 



WILLIAM L. McWHORTER. Among 
Whiteside county's native sons is 
numbered this gentleman, who owns and is 
successfully conducting a fine farm on sec- 
tion 3, Montmorency township. He was 
born in this township, August 23, i860, and 
is a son of Hon. Tyler McWhorter, of whom 
a sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. 
In the district schools of the neighborhood 
he acquired his preliminary education, which 
was supplemented by a commercial course 
in the Sterling Business College. In his 
youth he early became familiar with all the 
duties and labors which fall to the lot of the 
agriculturist, being his father's assistant 
until he attained his majority. After his 
marriage he rented the old homestead for 
four years and successfully engaged, not 
only in general farming, but also in stock 
raising, doing his own shipping and market- 
ing his cattle and hogs in Chicago. In this 
way he acquired the capital with which to 
purchase a farm of his own, and in 1892 he 
bought his present property, consisting of 
two hundred and sixty-one acres of valuable 
land on section 3, Montmorency township. 
The greater part of his land is now under a 
high state of cultivation, and he is also suc- 
cessfully engaged in stock raising. His 
methods are at once practical and pro- 
gressive, and in all trade transactions he is 
thoroughly reliable. 



On the 1 2th of March, 1890, Mr. Mc- 
Whorter was united in marriage with Miss 
Margaret A. Beale, who was born in Somer- 
set county, Pennsylvania, December 28, 
1866. Her parents were also natives of the 
Keystone state and never came to Illinois. 
The mother died when Mrs. McWhorter 
was thirteen years of age and when a 
maiden of eighteen summers she came to 
Whiteside county to make her home with 
her uncle, Herman Sturtz. Two children 
were born of their union: Margaret Louise, 
now nine years of age; and one who died in 
infancy. The parents have many warm 
friends in the community and enjoy the 
hospitality of many of the best homes in 
this locality. 

Mr. McWhorter is a member of Mont- 
morency camp. No. 191 2, M. W. A., and 
belongs to the Lutheran church of Sterling. 
In politics he is a Republican, but has never 
been an aspirant for political honors, pre- 
ferring to devote his time and energies to 
his farming interests. Since taking up his 
abode at his present home, he has erected 
a large barn and made many other sub- 
stantial improvements, including the plant- 
ing of an orchard of about two hundred 
trees. He is very industrious, and his 
well-directed efforts have brought to him a 
success which ever crowns earnest labor. 



HUGH SHANNON, one of the largest 
land owners in Whiteside county, and 
one of the most progressive citizens of Gen- 
esee township, is a self-made man in the 
best sense of the word. Commencing the 
battle of life empty handed he gradually ac- 
cumulated wealth by the exercise of the 
talent with which nature had plentifully en- 
dowed him. For years he has been num- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



471 



bered with the most enterprising of our local 
farmers, and by reason of the interest which 
he has taken in the raising of high-bred 
stock, his name has been a familiar one at 
the fairs and exhibitions of this county and 
the northern part of the state. 

A native of the northern part of Ireland, 
Mr. Shannon's birth place was only about 
si.\ miles from the shores of Scotland. He 
was born May 28, 1835, a son of Robert 
Shannon, a native of the same locality. 
The grandfather of our subject, James 
Shannon, was born in Scotland. Robert 
Shannon, who was a wealthy man at one 
time, lost his property by becoming security 
for friends, and came to America to retrieve 
his fortunes. With his wife and fourteen 
children he landed in Canada in 1849, with 
but seventy-five cents. His wife, whose 
maiden name was Rose Young, was a native 
of Ireland, born about 18 16, and her death 
occurred in July, 1881. For six years they 
lived on rented land in Canada, but were 
ably assisted by their sons and ultimately 
became the owner of one hundred acres of 
land in Whiteside county. After his wife's 
death the father disposed of his property 
and made his home with his children. His 
death occurred in Sterling in 1889, under 
the hospitable roof of his daughter, Jennie, 
widow of Bert Hazzard. His other children 
were named respectively: Ellen, Mary, 
wife of James Hillyer; Hugh, Thomas, 
Rachel, Robert, John, Annie, Glasgow, 
Archie, Jennie, David, George and Prudence. 
The only survivors of this large family are: 
Hugh, Thomas and Jennie. Thomas, now 
retired from business, resides in Sterling. 
He has five children. 

As stated, Hugh Shannon left his native 
land in 1849, and after he reached Canada 
he found employment as a farm hand, re- 



ceiving four dollars a month. The follow- 
ing year he worked during the summer sea- 
son and attended school in the winter. 
Strong and capable, he had little difficulty 
in obtaining work, and just before coming 
west he received seventy-five dollars for a 
few weeks' labor. As this was the largest 
sum which he had ever had in his possession 
at one time he considered himself rich, but 
the same enterprising spirit which char- 
acterized him as a boy has been noticeable 
throughout his business career. For two 
years he worked as a carpenter, put down 
wells, and did other kinds of hard labor in 
this county, carefully husbanding his earn- 
ings. For seven years after his marriage he 
rented land, but his economical wife was of 
great assistance to him in his early strug- 
gles, and as the Civil war was in progress 
and men were in great demand at the front, 
the young wife was forced to help her hus- 
band in the fields. Thus by earnest effort 
they laid aside some capital with which they 
purchased a small tract of land, this prov- 
ing the nucleus of their subsequent fortunes. 
Mr. Shannon traded his farms several times, 
and finally purchased a desirable tract of 
land to which he has kept adding, and at 
the present time he owns five hundred and 
ten acres in Genesee township and one hun- 
dred and sixty acres in Lyndon township. 
Nearly all of this property has been im- 
proved by him personally, modern buildings 
adding much to the desirability of these 
farms. For years he has been one of the 
most extensive buyers and shippers of live 
stock in the township. On one occasion 
he shipped ten carloads to the city market. 
He raises grain and hay for the purpose of 
feeding his stock, and makes a specialty of 
raising fine cattle and hogs. Moreover, he 
has been locally noted for the valuable, 



472 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



high-bred horses which he has owned, and 
at one time he paid forty-one hundred dol- 
lars for two fine animals. For many years 
his horses have taken premiums at fairs, 
and at the Columbian Exposition held in 
Chicago, when he had over forty-five com- 
petitors in that special department, he was 
awarded the fourth premium for draft 
horses. At local fairs he has usually car- 
ried away the first or second prizes, and so 
fine were his exhibits that for some years 
no one could be found to enter into compe- 
tition with him, and he was consequently 
compelled to withdraw his horses. He has 
been present at every fair held in Morrison 
and Sterling of late years, for twenty years 
having been assistant marshal. 

Socially, Mr. Shannon is very popular, 
and is one of the favorites at the old settlers' 
meetings and reunions. In his political 
faith he is a Republican, and while he has 
never sought public office, his fellow towns- 
men have prevailed upon him to hold sev- 
eral local positions of responsibility and 
trust. During a period of four years he 
served efficiently as township supervisor. 

About six months after coming to Illinois 
Hugh Shannon wedded Susannah Durstine. 
She was born in Pennsylvania, in 1835, and 
consequently was twenty years of age at 
the time of her marriage. She had come to 
the west with her parents at seventeen 
years of age, and for six months had resided 
in Iowa. Her father then purchased land 
in Illinois, and for several years was en- 
gaged in general farming. Martin Durstine, 
for this was his name, with his wife, former- 
ly Mary Harvey, was a native of the Key- 
stone state. The union of our subject and 
wife was blessed by the birth of one daugh- 
ter, namely, Mary E., now the wife of 
Chauncy Brown, who resided on a portion 



of her father's farm, and is engaged in the 
live stock business in company with Mr. 
Shannon. Mr. and Mrs. Brown have had 
seven children: May, Minnie, Hugh, Edith, 
Josie, Warren and Eva. Not many young 
couples have commenced life together with 
less capital than did Mr. and Mrs. Shannon. 
As he sometimes laughingly says, he bor- 
rowed ten dollars, seven of which he invested 
in a suit of clothes, while three dollars was 
given to the minister for performing the 
ceremony. Thus he started his new life in 
debt, but it was not long ere he was on the 
high road to success. 

Mrs. Shannon had ten brothers and sis- 
ters, namely: Hannah; Jacob, who died 
in Murphreesboro, Tennessee, while serving 
his country in the war of the Rebellion; 
Sarah, wife of John A. Boston, a Nebraska 
blacksmith; Harvey, making his home with 
our subject; Martin, deceased; John, of 
Rock Falls, who served as orderly to Colo- 
nel Kirk, during the Civil war; Henry; 
Wilson; Rebecca and William. During the 
Civil war Harvey Durstine enlisted as a pri- 
vate in Company A, Thirty-fourth Regiment, 
Illinois Infantry, and served under Captain 
E. B. Ward. Among the important battles 
in which he participated were the following: 
Shiloh, Corinth, La Vern, Knob Gap, Stone 
river. Liberty Gap, Chickamauga, Rocky 
Face Ridge, Resaca, Rome, Dallas, I\ene- 
saw mountain. Peach Tree creek, Jonesboro, 
being mustered out at Louisville, Kentucky, 
September 7, 1864. 



GEORRGE T. ;MARFLEET, who is at 
the head of the Rock Falls Ice Company 
and is a leading business man of Rock Falls, 
Illinois, was born in Chautauqua county. New 
York, November 18, 1837, and is a son of 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



473 



Geornje K. and Elizabeth (Pierson) Marfleet, 
both natives of England, who came to the 
United States in early life and were mar- 
ried in New York. They lived in that state 
until coming west in 1857, when they lo- 
cated in Portland township, Whiteside coun- 
ty, Illinois. The father died in Erie, this 
county, in 1873, and the mother passed 
away in January, 1858. Our subject is the 
second of their three sons: (i) Pierson K. . a 
prominent lawyer of Prophetstovvn, mar- 
ried Lydia Ramsey, a daughter of David 
Ramsey, of that place. (2) Philip T. was 
a farmer of Prophetstown, enlisted in 1861 
in the Union army during the Civil war, 
and died at Springfield, Illinois, in the win- 
ter of 1862. 

In the county of his nativity, George 
T. Marfleet remained until si.xtecn years of 
age and then came overland to Portland 
township, Whiteside county, Illinois, where 
he engaged in farming for three years. Re- 
turning to the east, he attended school for 
a year, and on the completion of his edu- 
cation again came to this county, where he 
taught school in Tampico township through 
the winter months for about five years, 
while he worked on farms through the sum- 
mer season. He continued his residence 
in that township until 1884, when he came 
to Rock Falls and was engaged in the 
butcher business for a time. Since then 
he has given his attention to the ice busi- 
ness, in which he is still interested with his 
son Kirkman under the name of the Rock 
Falls Ice Company. By fair and honorable 
dealing they have built up an extensive 
trade and are numbered among the repre- 
sentative business men of the city. 

On the 13th of December, 1865, Mr. 
Marfleet was united in marriage with Miss 
Frances C. Post, a daughter of Ethan and 

27 



Jane (Whitcomb) Post, of Chautauqua coun- 
ty. New York. Her parents came west in 
1853 and located in Iowa. Her mother 
died in Polk county, that state, and her fa- 
ther's death occurred in Newton, Kansas, 
September 20, 1876, and there his remains 
were interred. In early life he followed the 
occupation of farming, but later engaged in 
mercantile business. To Mr. and Mrs. Mar- 
fleet were born two sons, namely: Kirk- 
man S. , born in Tampico township, July 
16, 1867, obtained a good education under 
the able instruction of his father and during 
his youth assisted in the labors of the home 
farm. When eighteen years of age he had 
a great desire to go west and finally went to 
Kansas, but not being pleased with the 
country, he returned to Illinois at the end 
of five months. For three years and a half 
he was in the employ of the Chicago, Bur- 
lington & Quincy Railroad Company, and 
was with the Northwestern Railroad Com- 
pany from 1884 until 1893, after which he 
worked in the paper mill at Rock Falls for 
two years, and since then has engaged in 
the ice business with his father. They com- 
menced operations on a small scale but now 
have a plant of eight hundred tons capacity. 
He has been successful in his business un- 
dertakings and has already acquired some 
property. George T. , Jr., our subject's 
younger son, was born in Tampico town- 
ship, September 9, 1869, and is an expert 
molder in the employ of the Keystone Man- 
ufacturing Company of Rock Falls. He 
married Effie M. Swarthout, of that city, 
and they have one child. 

During the trying days of the Civil war, 
Mr. Marfleet manifested his loyalty and pa- 
triotism by enlisting in the volunteer serv- 
ice in September, 1861, for three years, but 
before his term expired he was discharged 



474 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



for disability. He has alvva3's taken an 
active interest in public affairs, is public- 
spirited and progressive, and while a resi- 
dent of Tampico township filled a number 
of local offices, among the number being that 
of justice of the peace for four years. He 
is at present tax collector of Rock Falls and 
Colonia township, and is one of the highly 
respected and honored citizens of the place. 



HON. EDWARD H. NEVITT. One 
of the pioneers of Illinois, and through- 
out his long and useful life intimately associ- 
ated with the development of its resources, no 
one is more truly worthy of being repre- 
sented in its annals than is the Hon. E. H. 
Nevitt, nov/ a resident of Albany, and for- 
merly an able member of the state Legisla- 
ture. 

William Nevitt, father of the above, was 
of English descent, and was born in Browns- 
ville, Pennsylvania, in 1779. In his early 
manhood he was engaged in teaming and 
freighting between Philadelphia and Pitts- 
burg, on the old Conestoga road. His par- 
ents having located at Wheeling, Virginia, 
about 1807, he went to the then far west, 
also, and in 18 10 he became a resident of 
Breckinridge county, Kentucky, where he 
met and married Mary Edelin, a native of 
Port Tobacco, Maryland, her birth having 
occurred in 1781. In 18 18 the young couple 
located in White county, Illinois, buying 
land near Carmi. There Mr. Nevitt was 
busily engaged in the improvement of his 
farm until 1834, when he removed to Knox 
county, and three years later came to White- 
side county. Here he had located a tract 
of land in the fall of 1836, purchasing a 
claim from some speculators, and when this 
land came into the market in 1839, it passed 



regularly into the possession of Mr. Nevitt. 
It is situated on section 25, Albany town- 
ship, was entered at the Galena land office 
and since then has never been held by any 
one outside the family. His executive 
ability was early recognized, and the Gen- 
eral Assembly appointed him as a justice of 
the peace. At another time, he was honored 
by being made one of the commissioners on 
the improvement of the Wabash river. 
When a resident of White county, he was a 
candidate for the Legislature, on the Whig 
ticket, but in common with others of that 
party he suffered defeat. He died in 1848, 
and was survived by his widow, whose 
demise occurred in i860. They were the 
parents of eleven children, namely: John, 
James, Maria, Elizabeth, Clement, Nancy, 
William G. , Allen, Susan, Edward H. and 
Wilson. Edward and his sister Susan, 
wife of Thomas Finch, of Eldridge, Kansas, 
are the only survivors of this once large 
family. 

The birth of the Hon. E. H. Nevitt was 
at Carmi, Illinois, January 6, 1822, and 
was fifteen years of age at the time that his 
parents removed to Whiteside county. He 
continued to give his attention to agricult- 
ural pursuits until 1850, save such time as 
was devoted to the acquisition of an educa- 
tion. His higher studies were completed at 
Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois. From 
1850 until June 3, i860, he was successfully 
engaged in the lumber business at Abany, 
but on the last named date a tornado de- 
stroyed his house and lumberyards, and for 
nearly five years he sought to regain the 
measure of prosperity which had hitherto 
blessed him. For one season he served as 
United States mail agent between Dubuque 
and Rock Island, after which he resumed 
his former calling as a lumber dealer, and 



The biographical record. 



4^5 



continued to give his energies to that 
hne of commerce until he retired from active 
business in 1886. 

While still a young man Mr. Nevitt was 
called upon to serve in official capacities, 
and, as the years passed, fresh honors came 
to him without solicitation. When Albany 
township was organized he was chosen to 
be its first assessor, and for twenty years he 
was retained in the office. As school com- 
missioner he has served this county and for 
seven consecutive terms he was a super- 
visor of his township, resigning during the 
last term of his office, in order to accept 
the higher responsibilities of representative 
to the state Legislature from the eleventh 
district, including Whiteside and Carroll 
counties. He was elected to that impor- 
tant position in the fall of 1876, and served 
on several of the leading committees. He 
distinguished himself in the Assembly by the 
e.xercise of the same qualities of public 
spirit which had animated him in local af- 
fairs. He was again elected as a supervisor 
and held that office for six consecutive 
terms, in the meantime having charge of 
the construction of the Erie and Prophets- 
town bridge. From 1S91 to 1S93 he served 
as school treasurer. Formerly, he was a 
Whig, casting his first ballot for Henry 
Clay in 1849, and of late years he has been 
a stanch Republican, 

The marriage of Mr. Nevitt and Hannah 
Alvoid was solemnized at Le Claire, Iowa, 
December 27, 1S55. She was born May 
26, 1826, at Ellicottville, New York, and 
died November 30, 1882. Her only child, 
Lizzie Blanche, born April 19, 1856, died 
November 18, 1S58. The second marriage 
of Mr. Nevitt took place January 15, 1884, 
Jennie F. Winer becoming his bride. She is 
a native of Lockport, New York, born Au- 



gust 5, 1854. By her marriage has become 
the mother of two children: Fannie A., 
born March i, 1886, and Edward H., Jr., 
born February 27, 1888. 

In his fraternal relations Mr. Nevitt is a 
Master Mason, being identified with Albany 
lodge. No. 566, F. & A. M. For the past 
twelve years he has served as treasurer of 
the lodge and in various ways has mater- 
ially contributed to the welfare of the or- 
ganization. For many years Mr. Nevitt 
has been numbered among the members of 
the Albany Methodist Epi.scopal church, 
and for a long period he has acted as one 
of its trustees. 



COLONEL MOSES DILLON, one of 
the most prominent business men of 
Sterling, a dealer in lumber, "grain and coal, 
was born in Zanesville, Ohio, September 
19, 1845, a son of Lloyd and Margaret 
(Culbertson) Dillon, the former a native of 
Baltimore, Maryland, the latter of Pennsyl- 
vania. The paternal grandfather, John 
Dillon, was also born in Baltimore of Quaker 
ancestry, and was a pioneer pig iron manu- 
facturer at Dillon's Falls, near Zanesville, 
Ohio. The Colonel's father died in Zanes- 
ville, in 1845, and the mother departed this 
life in 1879. To them were born five chil- 
dren, namely: Ella, who died in childhood; 
Lloyd H. ; Mary P. ; Washington M. ; and 
Moses. 

In 1856 Colonel Dillon removed with the 
family to Di.xon, Illinois, and four years 
later came to Sterling, where, after receiv- 
ing a good common-school education, he 
clerked in the dry goods store of Mr. Craw- 
ford until he entered the army during the 
Civil war. On the 19th of May, 1S64, he 
enlisted at Sterling in Company A, One 
Hundred and Fortieth Illinois X'olunteer In- 



476 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



fantry, under Captain James A. Morgan and 
Colonel L. H. Whitney. From the camp 
at Dixon the regiment was ordered to Camp 
Butler, Springfield, Illinois, June i8, and 
from there proceeded by railroad to Cairo. 
Three months were spent in guarding the 
Memphis & Charleston Railroad, after which 
they returned to Memphis and from there 
went to Camp Frey, Chicago. At the time 
of Price's invasion of Missouri, the command 
was sent to assist in repelling the rebels' 
advance on St. Louis. Colonel Dillon was 
mustered out at Camp Frey, October 29, 
1864, and returned to Sterling. 

For ten years he was successfully en- 
gaged in the grocery business as a member 
of the firm of Smith & Dillon, and then 
turned his attention to the lumber, grain 
and coal trade, buying the established 
business of Judge Golden. In this enter- 
prise he has met with marked success, and 
is to-day one of the most prosperous and 
substantial of the place. He owns a grain 
elevator and also owns and operates a large 
planing mill. 

On the 8th of ^^ay, 1867, Colonel Dillon 
married Miss Emma J. Golden, daughter of 
Judge Joseph and Prudence Golden. Her 
father was at one time judge of the Wood- 
stock district. Mrs. Dillon died June 14, 
1888, leaving five children, namely: Mary 
P., Margret A., Alice E. , Joseph G. and 
Moses L. The Colonel was again married, 
January 6, 1892, his second union being 
with Mrs. Anna H. Whipple, one of the 
most charming and cultured ladies of Sterl- 
ing and a general favorite in society. After 
a two months trip to the Pacific coast, they 
settled down at their elegant home in Haw- 
thorne Villa, a beautiful suburb of Sterling. 

Socially Colonel Dillon is quite prom- 
inent and belongs to the Ancient Order of 



United Workmen, the Modern Woodmen of 
America, and Sterling lodge, No. 174, I. O. 
O. F. He has been lieutenant colonel of 
the First Regiment P. M. of Illinois, and 
was commander of Will Robinson post, No. 
274, G. A. R. , in 1888. While serving in 
the latter office he conceived the idea of 
erecting a soldiers' monument at Sterling, 
which resulted in the satisfactory consum- 
mation of his plans. The completion of 
this artistic memorial to Sterling's devoted 
sons who so gallantly fought for their coun- 
tr}' during the dark days of the Civil war, is 
due to the untiring efforts, zeal and patriotic 
fervor of Colonel Dillon while serving as 
president of the soldiers and citizens' com- 
mittee. It is not only a grand tribute of 
honor to her dead soldiers, but also to the 
cause for which they so heroically fought. 
Among the distinguished guests present at 
the dedication, July 4, 1890, was General 
Alger, commander in chief of the Grand 
Army of the Republic, while the oration 
was delivered by General McNulta, then of 
Bloomington, Illinois. In 1889 Colonel 
Dillon was a member of the staff of Com- 
mander-in-Chief Warner, of the Grand Army 
of the Republic. He is an ardent supporter 
of the Republican party, is a member of the 
Presbyterian church, and was a member of 
the building committee in 1887. By many- 
laudable public and private acts and bene- 
ficiaries the Colonel has conferred honor on 
the community in which he lives and has 
given to his country an e.xample of lofty 
patriotism which will ever dignify his name 
and memory. 



JERRY V. McCARTY was for several 
years one of the leading and representa- 
tive business men of Rock Falls, but is now 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



477 



living a retired life. Though born on the 
other side of the Atlantic, he is thoroughly 
American in thought and feeling, and that 
he is patriotic and sincere in his love for the 
stars and stripes was manifest by his service 
in the Civil war. 

Mr. McCarty was born in London, Eng- 
land, June 20, 1842, a son of Dennis and 
Johanna (Cochlan) McCarty, both natives 
of Ireland. The mother died when our 
subject was only three years old, and in i S49 
the father married Margaret Barry, also a 
native of the Emerald Isle. For twenty 
years he was a resident of London, England, 
and then, in 1850, emigrated to America 
and first located in New England, where he 
made his home for a part of one year. In 
the fall of 1850 he removed to McHenry 
county, Illinois, and in 1851 went to 
Stephenson county, later living in several 
Illinois counties until 1857 when he came 
to Whiteside county. He died October 3, 
1 87 1, but his second wife is still living and 
makes her home in Rock I'alls. To them 
were born the following children; Kate, who 
was married, in 1872, to M. B. Fitzgerald, 
contractor of Sterling; Mary, wife of James 
Fitzgerald, also a contractor of Sterling; 
Ella, wife of James Ballou, a cornicemaker 
of Chicago; Julia, a resident of Chicago; 
and Fannie, wife of James Wolfe, of Chi- 
cago. Of the four children born of the first 
union only two are now living, John and 
our subject. 

Jerry V. McCarty was only eight year? 
old when he came with the family to this 
country and the time spent in New England 
remained with the family in its various 
moves until coming to Whiteside county, in 
1857. Since then the home of the family 
has been in Whiteside county. In 1861, 
our subject enlisted for three years in Com- 



pany E, Thirty-fourth Illinois Volunteer In- 
fantry, and participated in sixteen general 
engagements. During the battle of Shiloh 
he was twice wounded. On receiving an 
honorable discharge at Atlanta, September 
17. 1864, he returned home and took uj) 
the more quiet pursuits of farm life, 
which claimed his attention for five 
years. Becoming tired of that occupation, 
he entered the employ of the Rockford, 
Rock Island & St. Louis Railroad Company, 
and was a locomotive engineer for two 
years, and the following eleven years was 
employed by the Panhandle, the western 
system of the Pennsylvania system. Dur- 
ing eleven years he lived in Logansport, 
Indiana, but with the exception of this time 
he has lived in Whiteside county, Illinois, 
since 1857. At the end of that period he 
started in business in Rock Falls as a dealer 
in coal and building material, and in that 
undertaking he met with well-merited suc- 
cess, accumulating considerable property. 
In September, 1899, he sold out his busi- 
ness, and is now living retired, surrounded 
by all the comforts and many of the luxuries 
of life, which have been obtained through 
his own industry, perseverance and able 
management. 

On the 22d of Ajnil, 1875, Mr. McCarty 
was united in marriage with Miss Mary 
Amelia Cassidy, a daughter of James and 
Elizabeth (Kissinger) Cassidy. The father, 
who was a native of Pennsylvania, and a 
contractor by occupation, died at his home 
in Logansport, Indiana, in 1866, but the 
mother is still living and continues her resi- 
dence there. Besides Mrs. McCarty they 
had three other children, namely: (i) 
Cecelia, born at Logansport, is the wife of 
James Shafer, a locomotive engineer of 
Huntington, Indiana, and they have one 



478 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



child, Aiif^'ustus. (2) John M., born at 
Logansport, is now a restaurant keeper in 
the city. He is married and has one child. 
(3) William, also born in Logansport, is a 
machinist and foreman of the round-house 
of the Panhandle Railroad Company at that 
place. He married Emma Thackarh, and 
they have one child, Florence. 

Mr. and Mrs. McCarty have two children: 
(i) Charles J., born in Logansport, Indiana, 
September 29, 1876, and was eight years of 
age when he came with his parents to 
Whiteside county, Illinois. He graduated 
from the Rock Falls high school in 1894, 
and then took up the study of electrical 
engineering at the State University in Cham- 
paign, Illinois, completing the four years' 
course. For a time he was engaged in the 
coal business with his father in Rock Falls, 
but is at present the superintendent of the 
electric light plant of that city. (2) Ger- 
trude, born in Logansport, August 26, 1880, 
resides at home with her parents. 



OLIVER TALBOTT, long one of the 
representative agriculturists of White- 
side county, is now living practically re- 
tired at his pleasant home near Sanfords- 
ville. He may be justly termed a self-made 
man, for to his own unaided efforts he owes 
the competence which he now enjoys, and 
which is amply sufficient for the needs of 
himself and family during the remainder of 
their lives. In all local affairs, which 
should receive the attention of patriotic cit- 
izens, he has been active and zealous, doing 
all within his power to advance the welfare 
of the public. 

James Talbott, the father of the above, 
was born in Westmoreland county, Penn- 
sylvania, in August, 1801. He was a car- 



penter and builder by trade, and after his 
marriage he removed to Cincinnati, where 
he continued to work at his usual calling 
for a number of years. In 1833, he started 
by boat for Peoria, and at Louisville the 
river was frozen and the family could pro- 
ceed no further on their journey until the 
ensuing spring. They lived in Peoria only 
a year, Mr. Talbott being employed in the 
building of two mills on the Kickapoo river. 
Then, buying oxteams and wagons, he moved 
to Whiteside county, and here followed his 
trade as a millwright for some five years. In 
1835 he built the Wilson mill, known all 
over this section of Illinois. Besides the 
one which he erected at Sterling and one at 
Buffalo Grove, he put up many others in 
various locations round about, and won the 
reputation of being unsurpassed in his spec- 
ial line of business. Building a log house on 
Buffalo creek, it became a regular stopping 
place for travelers on the way from Dixon 
to Galena, and hospitality was one of the 
prime traits of Mr. Talbott's character. 
In 1835 he started to Peoria, one hundred 
and ten miles away, for flour, but when he 
arrived found that the wheat had yet to be 
threshed, and then had to wait until grain 
was ground before he could return home 
with the flour. For several years he was 
occupied in farming, and at one time owned 
about three hundred acres. About 1873 he 
retired, thenceforth making his, home in 
Sterling. His death took place in 1879, 
his wife dying in 1882. Politically he was 
a Democrat, and frequently officiated in 
local positions, being the first supervisor of 
Jordan township, and holding that place for 
four terms, and also being assessor, collect- 
or, justice of the peace and commissioner 
for several years at a time. Thus, it may 
plainly be seen that he was a man of much 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



479 



more than ordinarj' ability, and that his 
neighbors and friends reposed great trusts to 
his keeping, confidently believing in his effi- 
ciency and integrity. He was raised a 
Quaker and after coming to this county he 
joined the Methodist Episcopal church, and 
until his death lived a noble Chri.stian life. 

The wife of James Talbott bore the 
maiden name of Sarah Woods, and she, too, 
was a native of Westmoreland county, her 
birth having occurred June 5, 1807. Two 
of their ten children, Mary J. and Sarah, 
died in infancy, and John W., the eldest 
born, died in Ivansas, unmarried. Hannah 
A., wife of Aaron Doty, of Kimball, South 
Dakota, has three living children. Martha 
died about 1876; she for some years engaged 
in teaching school in Iowa, and also taught 
several terms in Jordan township. Annetta, 
unmarried, resides in Sterling. James 
died, leaving a wife and four children, 
Belle, Bessie, James and Bertha. Their 
home is in Jordan township. Samuel, of 
the same township, has four children, Fred, 
Grace, Walter and Floyd. Amelia makes 
her home with her sister, Annetta, at the 
old homestead in Sterling. 

The birth of Oliver Talbott took place 
in Louisville, Kentucky, December 18, 
1833. His education was obtained in the 
schools of this county, and when of suitable 
age began the struggle for a livelihood. He 
thoroughly mastered agriculture in its vari- 
ous details, and dwelt with his parents until 
he was twenty- five years of age. Having 
no capital, he rented farms for several 
years, and then bought eighty acres of land, 
a part of the old homestead, at three dollars 
an acre. By good management, he was 
enabled to add to this amount, until he now 
owns over five hundred acres, all being 
under cultivation and valuable. Stock- 



raising has been one of his most profitable 
undertakings, and success came to him ere 
he had arrived at the prime of manhood. 
In 1891, he retired from active labors. His 
property is situated in Whiteside, Ogle and 
Carroll counties, comprising some of the 
best land in these sections. 

In 1888, Mr. Talbott married Mary C. 
Furry, who was born in Victor, New York, 
in 1845. One daughter has been born to 
this worthy couple, Alice, whose nativity 
occurred January 14, 1890. She is a pupil 
in the local school, and is making rapid 
progress in her studies. Mrs. Talbott was 
for twenty-five years a successful teacher in 
the schools of this county, and is a grad- 
uate of the State Normal at Normal, Illi- 
nois. Both as an educator and as presi- 
dent of the Whiteside county branch of the 
Woman's Christian Temperance Union, 
which important office she has held for the 
past ten years, she has become widely 
known, not only in this county, but through- 
out the northwest. Both Mr. and Mrs. 
Talbott have traveled considerably, and 
are well posted in the leading events and 
issues of the day. He has attended all of 
the great expositions in this country since 
the Centennial, including the one held at 
Atlanta, Georgia, and the New Orleans Cot- 
ton Exhibition. Generous to a fault, Mr. 
Talbott has assisted friends and acquaint- 
ances times without number, both finan- 
cially and in other ways, and is loyal to the 
high principles of Christian manhood 
which were inculcated in him by his esti- 
mable parents. Both he and his wife are 
members of the Methodist Episcopal church, 
and take earnest interest in religious en- 
terprises. Politically, he is a Prohibition- 
ist. Many of the important local offices 
have been filled by him, such as school 



48o 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



trustee, constable, road commissioner and 
tax collector, and the same fidelity which 
he has manifested in all of his relations with 
his fellow men have actuated him when 
serving in a public capacity. 



ROBERT McNEIL. Quite a number of 
the leading and prominent citizens of 
Whiteside county were born on the other 
side of the Atlantic, and have transported 
to this land of fertility and plenty the thrifty 
habits of their native country. Among 
these none is better known or more widely 
respected than the gentleman whose name 
heads this sketch. His home is on section 
27, Coloma township, where for many 
years he was actively engaged in farming, 
but is now living retired. 

Mr. McNeil was born in Paisley, Scot- 
land, November 27, 1836, a son of Alex- 
ander and Janet (Mason) McNeil, also na- 
tives of that country. In 1S49, with their 
family, they sailed for the United States, 
and arrived safely in New Orleans, but the 
mother was taken sick and died before 
reaching this county, being laid to rest in 
the cemetery at Albany, Illinois. The 
father, who was a machinist by trade, re- 
mained in Whiteside county for two years 
and then went to Chicago, where he worked 
at his trade until his death. In the family 
were five children, namely: (i) Isabella is 
the widow of Burrell Stone, who was an 
extensive and prosperous farmer, and she 
now spends her summers in Rock Falls, 
Illinois, and the winter in Florida. She 
has four children living, Mary J., Mina, 
Jessie and George, and one deceased. (2) 
Mary is the wife of Henry F. Batcheller, 
who was supervisor of Coloma township for 
twenty-five consecutive years, but is now 



living retired in Rock Falls, and they have 
three children; Imogene, wife of S. O. 
Roberson; Addison; and Mrs. Fay Rodde- 
meyer. (3) Robert, our subject, is the next 
of the family. (4) Jane is wife of John A. 
Lyde, of St. Andrews Bay, Florida. George 
lives in Chicago, and is a machinist; has 
charge of R. F. Crane's machine shops. 

Robert McNeil acquired his education in 
the schools of his native land, and after the 
emigration of the family to the new world, 
he began life for himself as a farm hand, 
being thus employed until able to purchase 
land. During his boyhood, he also engaged 
in teaming from that county to Chicago and 
Aurora, and drove cattle to market in the 
former city. From his wages, he at length 
saved one hundred dollars in gold, and with 
it purchased a tract of government land be- 
fore he was twenty years of age. For a 
number of years he successfully engaged in 
general farming and stock raising, making a 
specialty of Durham cattle, and at one time 
owned two hundred and eighty acres of 
very valuable and productive land, one hun- 
dred and eighty acres of which he still 
owns. 

In July, 1S56, Mr. McNeil was united in 
marriage with Miss Jean Lyle, who was also 
born in Paisley, Scotland, January 22, 1839, 
and was one of a family of ten children. 
Her parents were James and Agnes (Alli- 
son) Lyle, who came to this country in 
1843, and took up their residence at Buf- 
falo Grove, Ogle county, Illinois, where the 
father followed farming, though in Scotland 
he was a manufacturer. Of the nine chil- 
dren born to our subject and his wife one 
died in infancy. The others are as follows: 
(i) Alexander J., a hardware merchant of 
Rock Falls, is married and has one child, 
Jean E. (2) Agnes is the- wife of James 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



481 



H. Donaldson, living near Polo, Illinois, 
and they have three children, Robert W. , 
Harold J. and Mildred. (3) William E., 
a farmer of Montmorency township, this 
county, is married and has four children, 
Bessie, Lester, Walter and Jean. (4) John 
M., also a farmer of Montmorency town- 
ship, is married and has three children, 
Arthur, Emery and Mary. (5) Jean is 
employed in the store of her brother, Alex- 
ander, in Rock Falls. (6) Margaret is at 
home. (7) Robert B., reporter for the 
Standard, and a resident of Rock Falls, is 
married and has three children, Wayne L., 
Althea and Dorothea. He was a corporal 
in Company E, Sixth Illinois Volunteer In- 
fantry, during the Spanish-American war, 
and was sent to Porto Rico. (8) Mary I. , 
living at home, is the wife of Harry Kadel, 
and they have one son, Donald McNeil 
Kadel. 

Mr. and Mrs. McNeil began their do- 
mestic life upon the farm which is still their 
home. They are devout members of the 
Presbyterian church, and are held in high 
regard by all who know them. Politically 
Mr. McNeil is a Democrat, but is a sup- 
porter of the sound money platform. He 
has been honored by his party with local 
offices, which he most creditably and satis- 
factorily filled, being treasurer of the board 
of road commissioners for fourteen years; 
school director for the same length of time, 
and postmaster of Rock Falls for four years. 
He is a prominent member of the White- 
side County Agricultural Society, of which 
he was president two years, and was also 
president of the Whiteside County Cale- 
donia Club, a Scotch society, of which he 
was one of the organizers. He began life 
in the new world without capital, but he 
steadily overcame the obstacles in the path 



to success by his perseverance, energy and 
good management, so that he is now one of 
the well-to-do and substantial men of his 
community, as well as one of its represent- 
ative and honored citizens. 



HARM T. MEINS. One of the most 
enterprising farmers of Hopkins town- 
ship, Whiteside county, is the gentleman 
whose name heads this sketch. By the in- 
dustry and economy which he has practiced 
from his early manhood he has acquired a 
competence, and at the same time has won 
the respect of everyone with whom he has 
been associated, on account of his uniform 
integritj' and honor. 

A native of Oldenberg, Germany, he 
was born December 21, 1830, a son of 
Henry Wilhelm Meins. The latter was 
born in the same city, November 21, 1800, 
and his wife, Maria Meins, of the same 
place, was born on the 5th of the same 
month. They were married on Christmas- 
day, 1825, and became the parents of four 
children. Teita Margaret, born February 
24, 1827, married Diedrich L. Johnson, and 
four children blessed their union. Their 
home is in this township. Mein N. Meins, 
born in August, 1828, and unmarried, came 
to Illinois in 1858, and soon after his arri- 
val died from the effects of a sunstroke, on 
the 8th of August, 1858. Mary, born in 
1840, came with her parents to the United 
States in 1859, and died the following year. 
The father of Henry W'. Meins was Mein 
Eden Meins, who with his wife, Teita Mar- 
garet (Hendricks) Meins, lived to a ripe old 
age at their home in Oldenberg province, 
Germany, had five children, four of the 
number being sons. 

It was in the year 1859 that Henry W. 



482 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Meins and his family crossed the Atlantic, 
determined to make their future home in 
Illinois. They located on a farm in Hop- 
kins township, but at the end of a year or 
two, the father, who was in poor health, 
retired from active labors. He died at the 
home of our subject when in his eighty-fifth 
year. His wife died some years previous- 
ly, when she had attained the age of three- 
score and ten. 

H. T. Meins passed twenty-four years 
of his life in his native province, receivinga 
liberal education. In 1854, became to the 
United States, and upon landing in New 
York city, preceeded to Norwich, Connecti- 
cut. There he dwelt for four years and, by 
careful husbanding his resources, had a snug 
sum laid aside at the end of that period. 
Love for his Fatherland and old friends drew 
him back to Germany, where he remained 
only six weeks, visiting his relatives. A 
second time he sailed for the new world, in 
1858, accompanied by the lady who became 
his wife, formerly Anna Christina Johnson. 
Their marriage was celebrated July 4, 1858, 
in New York city, whence they came to 
Sterling, Illinois. There the young couple 
remained for two years, the husband plying 
the trade of a shoemaker. In 1S60, he 
bought 'eighty acres of land in Hopkins 
township, a portion of his present large 
homestead, which comprises two hundred 
and ten acres. He has continued to im- 
prove this property, and his commodious 
house, and other buildings (the barn reputed 
to be the largest in the township) render 
this country home one of the most attract- 
ive in this county. 

In all of his business undertakings, Mr. 
Meins has met with well deserved success. 
In all public affairs, in which the welfare of 
the community is at stake, he takes a 



patriotic interest, and though he formerly 
was a Democrat, he became convinced of 
the fact that the party's position on the 
money question, in 1896, was unsound, and 
accordingly, being a man with the courage 
of his convictions, he cast his ballot for 
William McKinley and sound money. Re- 
ligiously, he is a German Lutheran. 

The father of our subject's wife, Chris- 
topher Johnson, was born August 26, 1830. 
Another brother, Frederick, who served as 
a volunteer in the Franco-German war, and 
was severely wounded in the arm, was sub- 
sequently appointed by the government as a 
conductor on a German railroad. He is 
now deceased. He had two children by his 
first marriage. They are both now in 
Illinois. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. 
Meins two daughters were born. The elder, 
Annie Christina, born August 28, 1859, is 
the wife of John Fulfs, married December 
4, 1879. Their home is in Genesee town- 
ship. Of their three living children, two 
are daughters. The younger child of our 
subject, Hannah Armenia, married Henry 
W. Stern, in 18S3, and, with their two sons, 
they reside on the home farm. 



FRANK BAER. There is no element 
which has entered into our composite 
national fabric which has been of more 
practical strength, value and utility than 
that furnished by the sturdy, persevering 
and honorable sons of Germany, and in the 
progress of our union this element has 
played an important part. Intensely prac- 
tical, and ever having a clear comprehension 
of the ethics of life, the German contingent 
has wielded a powerful influence, and this 
service cannot be held in light estimation by 
those who appreciate true civilization and 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



483 



true advancement. Among the most prom- 
inent of Sterling's citizens who were born in 
the fatherland was Frank Baer, now de- 
ceased. 

He was born in Hesse, Darmstadt, 
Germany, April 11, 1828, and was left 
motherless when but an infant. His father 
afterward married again and he was reared 
by his stepmother, remaining at home 
through his school days. At the age of 
fourteen he began serving an apprenticeship 
to the butcher's trade, *and continued to fol- 
low that occupation in his native land until 
1854, when he crossed the broad Atlantic to 
America. He spent several years in travel- 
ing from place to place, working at his 
trade in different states. 

^^'hile working in La Salle, Ilhnois, Mr. 
Baer met Miss Caroline Dorr, to whom he 
was united in marriage, June 27, 1857. 
She was a native of Wurtemburg, Germany, 
and a daughter of John and Rosa (Heffner) 
Dorr. At the age of seventeen years she 
left home and native land and came to the 
United States. She landed in this country 
after a voyage of fifty-two days on board a 
sailing vessel, on which forty of the pas- 
sengers died. She stopped first in Chicago, 
where she remained a year, and then went 
to La Salle, where she made her home until 
after her marriage. 

Mr. Baer continued to work at his trade 
in La Salle until 1867, when he came to 
Sterling, and opened a butcher shop of his 
own on Third street between Sixth and 
Seventh avenues. After renting this prop- 
erty for a short time he purchased it and 
continued to conduct his market for many 
years. In 1890 he built the comfortable 
residence on Seventh avenue now occupied 
by his family, and soon afterward moved 
his shop beside it, in order that he might be 



nearer his business. Finally, in 1892, he 
sold his business to his son Frank and son- 
in-law, Harry Carter. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Baer were born eight 
children, as follows: Caroline is now the 
wife of Frank Uphold, of Sterling. Minnie 
is the wife of Theodore Fisher, of Chicago. 
Emma is the wife of Lawrence Troger, of 
Chicago. Katherine is the wife of Harry 
Carter, of Sterling. May is the wife of Wal- 
ter Stoeckle, of Sterling. Frank, born Sep- 
tember 27, 1867, died November 17, 1897. 
He was the only son of the family, and was 
an infant in arms when the family came to 
Sterling. After his father retired from busi- 
ness, he and his brother-in-law carried on 
the market until his death, which was a se- 
vere blow to the family and friends. He 
was a most exemplary young man, respected 
and esteemed by a large circle of friends, 
and was stricken down in the vigor of early 
manhood just before he was to have been 
married to a most estimable young lady. 
Elizabeth, the next of the family, was born 
August 4, 1872, and died January 11, 1877. 
Josephine is at home, the companion of her 
widowed mother. The children were all 
liberally educated in the city schools. 

Mr. Baer was a supporter of the Demo- 
cratic party but was not a politician in the 
sense of office seeking. Fraternally he was 
a charter member and one of the twelve who 
organized the United Workmen lodge in 
Sterling. After a long, useful and well- 
spent life he passed away at his home in 
Sterling, March 28, 1899. He had come to 
Sterling a poor man, and by close attention 
to business and the able assistance of his 
wife had acquired a competency, and was 
in a position to enjoy the fruits of former 
toil when called from this life. He was 
widely and favorably known and no man in 



484 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



the community had more friends or was 
more highly esteemed. Since the death of 
her husband, Mrs. Bier has ably attended 
to her property interests. She is a most 
estimable lady and like her husband is held 
in high regard by all who know her. 



LE. MATTHEWS, the present efficient 
county treasurer of Whiteside county 
and an honored veteran of the Civil war, 
was born in Ivalamazoo county, Michigan, 
March lo,. 1841, and is a son of x'llonzo A. 
and Charlottte (Williams) Matthews, both 
natives of Massachusetts, the former born 
March 26, 1812, the latter February 9, 
1 8 14. His paternal grandparents, Eggle- 
ston and Charlotte (Stowe) Matthews, were 
also natives of the old Bay state, and the 
latter was a relative of Mrs. Harriet Beecher 
Stowe. The grandfather, who was a farmer 
by occupation, moved from Massachusetts 
to Mentor, Ohio, with an ox team and sled 
in 1824, when his son Alonzo A. was only 
about a year old, and there took up a tract 
of wild land which he cleared and trans- 
formed into a good farm. In 1830 he went 
to Kalamazoo county, Michigan, and this 
journey was also made with an ox team. 
In company with the father of our subject 
he took up one hundred and sixty acres of 
land where the Michigan Central depot at 
Galesburg, Michigan, now stands. He 
died soon after locating there, leaving five 
children, namely: Hannah, Julia, Anson, 
Alonzo A. and Gideon, all of whom are now 
deceased with the exception of Alonzo A. 
The mother of these children died about 
six years after the removal of the family 
to Ohio. 

Alonzo A. Matthews was educated in 
the schools of Mentor, Ohio, and there 



grew to manhood. At the age of twenty- 
one, he married Miss Charlotte Williams, 
who is the eldest in a family of eight chil- 
dren, five of whom are still living. Her 
father, Levi Williams, was a native of 
Massachusetts and a carpenter by trade. 
At the age of sixteen he went to Lenox, 
Ohio, where he followed his trade in con- 
nection with farming, and built nearly all of 
the large churches of that locality, making 
a specialty of that work. Later he moved 
to Irving, Kansas, where he and his wife 
both died. His father lived to the advanced 
age of one hundred and one years, and a 
year prior to liis death walked two miles to 
the polls to vote. About 1832 Alonzo A. 
Matthews removed to Kalamazoo county, 
Michigan, where his father had previously 
located, and he settled upon an eighty-acre 
tract of land which he entered from the 
government. While in Ohio he had studied 
medicine and for a few years he engaged in 
practice in Michigan, leaving his farm to 
be operated by others. About 1846 he re- 
turned to Ohio and located in Geauga coun- 
ty, where he engaged in farming, but made 
a specialty of dairying, until 1855, which 
year witnessed his arrival in Erie, White- 
side county, Illinois. The following year 
he returned east for his family. He bought 
land in Erie township, and engaged in fann- 
ing until old age prevented him from en- 
gaging in such arduous toil, since which 
time he has made his home in the village of 
Erie. Of his eight children, seven reached 
years of maturity, namely: ^^'ealthy, now 
deceased; Worthy, a resident of Erie, who 
married Sophia Herriman and has four chil- 
dren; Luther E., our subject; Julia, wife 
of R. B. Herriman, of Missouri, by whom 
she has two children; Gideon G., of Chi- 
cago, who married Ora Williams and has 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



48s 



seven children; Carrie, wife of L. D. Grid- 
ley, of Savannah, Illinois, by whom she 
has two children; and Anson, a resident of 
Erie, who married Estella Smith, now de- 
ceased. 

Luthur E. Matthews, of this review, 
was educated in the district schools of Ohio, 
Michigan and Illinois. just after he at- 
tained his majority, in August, 1862, he 
enlisted in Company I, Seventy-fifth Illinois 
Volunteer Infantry, which was mustered 
into the United States service at Dixon, 
Illinois, and from there went to Louisville, 
Kentucky, September 30, where Bragg was 
then located. In the battle of Perryville, 
October 8, our subject was wounded in one 
foot, and in the same engagement fifty of 
the regiment were killed and one hundred 
and fifty wounded. They participated in 
the battle of Murfreesboro, where only two 
were killed, and during the battle of Chicka- 
mauga guarded the ammunition train. Later 
they took an active part in the battles of 
Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Ring- 
gold, Georgia, Dalton, Rocky Face, Resaca, 
Dallas and New Hope Church, where our 
subject was again wounded through the 
right knee. He was sent home and hon- 
orably discharged from the service at 
Quincy, Illinois, in November, 1864, on 
account of his wounds. 

The first winter after his return home, 
Mr. Matthews taught school and then en- 
gaged in farming on his own account, but 
continued to live with his parents. Later 
he followed various occupations. On the 
3d of January, 1871, in Erie, he married 
Miss Marie Alden, who was born in New 
York, in i 850, a daughter of William Alden, 
a farmer of that state. She died in 1874, 
leaving one child, Alden, who died at the 
age of si.x months. Mr. Matthews was 



again married, November 14, 1877, his 
second union being with Miss Lucy L. Hub- 
bard, who was born in this county in April, 
1S57, and is a daughter of Benjamin and 
\'irginia R. (Thompson) Hubbard, both 
natives of Ohio. The father, who was a 
farmer by occupation, is now deceased, but 
the mother is still living and now makes her 
home with our subject. They had four 
children, of whom Mrs. Matthews is the 
eldest. 

After his second marriage Mr. Matthews 
embarked in the butcher business in Erie, 
which he carried on for eight years, and 
then built the lunch counter at the end of 
the stage route in Denrock, which he con- 
ducted for four years. During the World's 
Fair in Chicago, in 1893, he conducted a 
boarding-house and kept roomers in that 
city. On his return to Whiteside county he 
opened a grocery and hardware store in 
Fulton, which he carried on until 1896, 
and the following two years was proprietor 
of Hotel Matthews at that place. In No- 
vember, 1898, he was elected county treas- 
urer, and is now filling that office with credit 
to himself and to the entire satisfaction of 
his constituents. He served as assessor of 
Fulton one year, and during his residence 
in Erie served as president of the village 
board, supervisor and town clerk. His 
public and private life are alike above 
reproach, and he has the confidence and 
respect of all who know him. Since cast- 
ing his first presidential vote for Abraham 
Lincoln, in 1864. he has been an ardent 
supporter of the Republican party. Socially, 
he belongs to the Modern Woodmen of 
America and Alpheus Clark post, G. A. R., 
and religiously both he and his estimable 
wife are members of the Christian church of 
Fulton. 



4S6 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



JAMES M. WINTERS, who is now liv- 
ing a retired life in the village of Coleta, 
was for many years one of the substantial 
farmers of Carroll and Whiteside counties. 
He was born March 22, i8og, in Genesee 
county, New York, where the first eight 
years of his life were passed. His father, 
Timothy Winters, was born in Pennsyl- 
vania, just across the line from New York. 
In 18 17 he removed with his family to 
southern Indiana, where the remainder of 
his life was spent. There our subject grew 
to manhood, living with his father until he 
was twenty-one years of age. He then went 
to learn the blacksmith trade, at which he 
continued for two years, since which time 
until his retirement from active business life 
he followed the avocation of a farmer. 

In 183 1, Mr. Winters was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Susan Giger, a native of 
Tennessee and daughter of George and 
Tabitha (Henderson) Giger, who was one of 
fourteen children, two of whom, however, 
dying in infancy. These surviving infancy 
were Sally, John, Susan, Loraine, Isaiah, 
Betsy, Josephus, George, Matilda, Eliza, 
Wylie and K.ittie. All of the family are 
now deceased, except Isaiah and Wylie, 
who reside in Indiana, and George, who is 
living in California. After his marriage, Mr. 
Winters remained in Indiana until 1847, and 
there six of his nine children were born — 
Catherine, William J., Tabitha, George C, 
James P. and Elhannan C. Catherine mar- 
ried Newton Dodd, by whom she had five 
children, one of whom died in infancy. The 
others were Phoebe, James, Emily and 
Henry. Her husband is now deceased, and 
she is making her home in Oklahoma. 
William J. married Elizabeth Fowler, and 
they became the parents of six children — 
Elsie, Perry, Mary, Lizzie, Viola and Frank, 



the last named dying in infancy. The fam- 
ily now reside in Marion county, Nebraska. 
Tabitha married Cephas Herless, by whom 
she had six children, of whom four are now 
living — James, William, Belle and Roy. 
Mr. Herless is deceased, but Mrs. Herless 
is yet living, making her home in the village 
of Coleta, Illinois. George C. married 
Emily Mason, and they had one daughter, 
Eva. When the Civil war was in progress, 
George enlisted in the Thirty-fourth Illinois 
Volunteer Infantry, and died from typhoid 
fever on December 27, 1861, at Louisville, 
Kentucky. James P. married Olive Baxter, 
and they have three living children — Nora, 
Clinton and Howard. They lost one in in- 
fancy. James is a veteran of the Civil war, 
having served in the Fifteenth Illinois Vol- 
unteer Infantry for three years. He was in 
the battles of Shiloh, Hatchel, Vicksburg, 
and other minor engagements. For his 
services, he now draws a pension of eight 
dollars per month. The family now reside 
in the state of Washington, sixty miles east 
of Seattle. 

Leaving Indiana in 1847, Mr. Winters 
came with his family to Illinois and located 
in Carroll county, where he purchased one 
hundred and sixty acres of government land 
and commenced the development of a farm. 
To his original purchase he added from 
time to tune until he had a fine farm of 
three hundred and twenty acres, which he 
later sold and purchased a farm of one hun- 
dred and forty acres, also in Carroll county. 
This farm he rented for a number of years, 
but has since sold it, and is living retired, 
enjoying the fruits of a well spent life. 
While residing in Carroll county the family 
was increased by the birth of three children, 
Matilda, Melissa and John, the latter dying 
in infancy. Elhannon married Paulina Sco- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



487 



ville, and they have three living children, 
James, Alice and Carl. Wayne died in in- 
fancy. Elhannon was four years in the 
service of his country during the Civil war, 
enlisting for three years in the Thirty-fourth 
Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and before the 
expiration of his term of service re-enlisted 
as a veteran. He was in the battle of Shi- 
loh, and was with Sherman in his march to 
the sea. He was once a prisoner a few 
days, but was exchanged, and permitted to 
go home on a furlough, from which he re- 
turned to his regiment and remained with it 
until the close of the war. He now draws 
a pension of fourteen dollars per month 
from the government. With his family he 
makes his home in Rock Falls, where he is 
serving as justice of the peace, city clerk, 
insurance agent, and does a general collect- 
ing business. Matilda married Elijah Olm- 
sted, and they have five children, Grover, 
Lemon, Susan, Wright and Emeline. They 
now live in Milledgeville, Carroll county, 
Illinois. Melissa married Charles Wallace, 
and they have had eight children, four of 
whom are now living — Luther, Clarence, 
Emeline and Jane. They now reside in 
Oklahoma territory. 

In his farming operations Mr. Winters 
met with good success, converting wild land 
into productive farms, bringing them under 
a high state of cultivation. In 1883 Mrs. 
Winters departed this life, and her remains 
were interred in the village cemetery at 
Milledgeville, Carroll county, lUinoi.s. She 
was a good woman, a loving wife and affec- 
tionate mother, and her loss was greatly 
lamented. On the i ith of December, 1885, 
Mr. Winters for his second wife married 
Miss Annie Skill, a native of Ireland, and 
daughter of Timothy and Margaret Skill. 

Mr. Winters in early life was a Whig, 



casting his first presidential vote for William 
Henry Harrison. On the formation of the 
Republican party he identified himself with 
it, and continued to vote that party ticket 
until some twelve years ago, since which 
time he has voted the Prohibition ticket. 
Fraternally he formerly was a member of 
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, but 
has not affiliated with the order for a num- 
ber of years. Religiously he is a member 
of the United Brethren in Christ. He is a 
self-educated man, his school life being of 
very short duration, attending for a few 
months a country school when a small boy, 
and for about three months when twenty 
years of age. He is now in his ninety-first 
year and has a remarkable memory, with 
his faculties unimpaired, save for the loss of 
hearing, being slightly deaf. He can see to 
read and write without glasses. To such 
men, pioneers of a new country, a debt of 
gratitude is due, and it is safe to say that 
no man in Whiteside county has more 
friends than " Uncle Jimmy Winters," as 
he is familiarly known. 



CLARK R. POWELL, proprietor of the 
Sterling Nursery & Fruit Farm on 
section 23, Sterling township, and one of 
the most prominent and successful horti- 
culturists of this section of the state, was 
born in Saratoga county. New York, Sep- 
tember 12, 1826, and is a son of Joseph 
and Hannah (Bowman) Powell, both na- 
tives of Dutchess county, that state. When 
our subject was si.x years old, they removed 
to Monroe county. New York, where the 
father successfully engaged in farming for 
man}' years. In his family were nine chil- 
dren who reached yearsof maturity, namely: 
Jacob, Lydia Ann, Nathaniel, Martha, 



488 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Eliza, Henry, Clark and Nelson. Only two 
are now living, Lydia Ann, widow of Isaac 
G. Ewer and a resident of Mendon, Monroe 
count}', New York; and Clark R., our sub- 
ject. 

During his boyhood, Clark R. Powell 
attended the public schools of Monroe coun- 
ty, and for one winter was a student at the 
academy in Masidon Center, Wayne county. 
New York. After completing his education 
he remained at home, assisting in the work 
of the farm until the fall of 1849, when, at 
the age of twenty-three years, he came to 
Whiteside county, Illinois, where his broth- 
ers, Jacob and Henry, had previously lo- 
cated. He lived with them in Sterling 
township for four years, and then returned 
to the east. 

On the 17th of October, 1853, Mr. 
Powell was united in marriage with Miss 
Mary E. Quick, a native of Ulster county. 
New York, and a daughter of Harvey and 
Judith S. Quick, natives of New York and 
Pennsylvania, respectively. The father 
always made his home in the east and fol- 
lowed the occupation of farming. To Mr. 
and Mrs. Powell were born five children: 
Albert, who is with his father; Malissa A., 
who is the widow of Moses Hartman and 
makes her home with our subject; Edwin, 
a fruit farmer of Sterling township, who 
married Lizzie Andreas and has one child, 
Tracy; Theron, a resident of Coloma town- 
ship, who married Ora Taylor and has two 
children, Mary and Ralph; and Martha, who 
married Howard L. Wink, now of Battle 
Creek, Iowa, and died at the age of twenty- 
six years. 

After his marriage, Mr. Powell returned 
to Sterling township, Whiteside county, 
Illinois, and purchased thirty acres of land, 
upon which he set out a nursery, being the 



second man in the county to engage in that 
business. He has added to his land but 
has never e.\tensively engaged in farming, 
preferring to devote his time and attention 
to horticulture. He started in the nursery 
business on quite a large scale, and gradually 
enlarged his business until the Civil war, when 
sales began to fall off and have gradually 
decreased. The business will probably be 
closed out in the spring of 1900. He has 
made a specialty of apples, but also deals 
in all kinds of fruit and ornamerital trees, 
shrubs, etc. He has sold nearly all of the 
evergreen trees found in the county and 
they have now become splendid trees. 
About thirty years ago, Mr. Powell also 
embarked in the fruit business, and now 
raises all kinds of berries. His red raspberries 
include the varieties known as Louden, 
Miller's red, and Thompson's early prolific; 
the black raspberries are the Olders, Gregg, 
Eureka, Conrath and Kansas; the black- 
berries, Snyder, Stone, Hardy, Western 
Triumph and Ancient Briton; strawberries, 
Clyde, Crescent seedling, Splendid, Marshall, 
Warfield, Bissell and Haverland; currants, 
white Dutch, Cherry and Fay's prolific; and 
gooseberries, red jacket and Drowling. In 
1897 his output of raspberries amounted to 
si.xteen thousand quarts, and he always has 
splendid crops in every way. He sells all 
his fruit in Sterling and vicinity. He is an 
active and prominent member of the North- 
ern Illinois Horticultural Society and also of 
the Rock River Valley Society. He is 
deeply interested in everything pertaining 
to his chosen calling, and thoroughly under- 
stands every department of the work. He 
is a Free Thinker, though formerly he was 
a member of the Uniteran church. In early 
life he was a supporter of the Democratic 
party, but joined the Republican party on 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



4S9 



its organization and has since fought under 
its banner. He is widely and favorably 
known, and as a horticulturist and citizen 
stands high in the esteem of his fellowmen. 



PETER R. BOYD. Prominent among 
the business men of Morrison is this 
gentleman, who for over a third of a cent- 
ury has been identified with the history of 
the city. He is a man of keen discrimina- 
tion and sound judgment, and as a financier 
he ranks among the ablest. He was born 
in Stephenson, Ayrshire, Scotland, Eebru- 
ary 7, 1844, a son of William and Mary 
(Scott) Boyd. For many generations the 
home of the family has been in Ayrshire, 
only about four miles from Auld Brif o' 
Doon, where Robbie Burns was born in an 
old thatched cottage, which our subject has 
often seen. He is a great admirer of Burns' 
writings, and has many relics from his old 
place. Mr. Boyd's mother was a direct de- 
scendant of Sir Walter Scott. The parents 
were born devout members of the Presbyte- 
rian church and the father was a farmer by 
occupation. More extended mention is 
made of this couple in coimection with the 
sketch of Hugh H. I'.oyd on another page 
of this volume. 

Our subject began his education in his 
native land. In 1856 he came with his 
parents to this country on the Edinburg, 
one of the early steamers, which at that 
time was making her first trip. Coming di- 
rect to Whiteside county^ Illinois, the fa- 
ther purchased a small farm near Morrison, 
on which our subject grew to manhood, his 
education being completed in the district 
schools of the neighborhood. During the 
Civil war he enlisted for ninety dajs in 
Companv B, One Hundred and Fortieth 

28 



Illinois Volunteer Infantry, which was as- 
signed to the Third Brigade, Second Sepa- 
rate Division, Army of the Cumberland, but 
he was in the service at this time for six 
months, taking part in the engagements 
around Nashville and Chattanooga. He re- 
enlisted in Company G, One Hundred and 
Fifty-si.xth Illinois Volunteer Infantry — the 
last regiment raised during the war — and 
remained in the service until after hostilities 
ceased, being mustered out September 26, 

1865. He was always found at his post of 
duty, valiantly fighting tor the old flag and 
the cause it represented, and from private 
was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant. 

After spending another year upon the 
home farm, Mr. Boyd came to Morrison, in 

1866, and entered the employ of Drs. Tay- 
lor & Anderson, who were engaged in the 
drug and grocery business, remaining with 
them fifteen years, and having full charge 
of the store after the first two years. Sub- 
sequently he was with T. R. King, in the 
creamery business, as bookkeeper for three 
years. In the meantime he had made some 
very wise investments in real estate, and to 
the real estate and loan business he has 
since devoted his energies with most grati- 
fying results. He has owned a great deal 
of both city and farm property. He is a 
shrewd and capable business man, upright 
and honorable in all his dealings, and has 
met with well-deserved success. 

In 1872 Mr. Boyd married Miss Eliza A. 
Eraser, a native of Nova Scotia, Scotland, 
and a daughter of Deacon William Eraser, 
an elder of the First Presbyterian church of 
Morrison, who was born in Inverness-shire, 
Scotland, and belongs to a very prominent 
family. Two children were born of this 
union: Paul Eraser and Daisy M. The 
son was born in Morrison, November 8, 



490 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



1874, and attended the common and high 
schools of that city, from which he was 
graduated in 1893. During the following 
three years he clerked in the drug store of 
J. H. Snyder & Company, and then entered 
the pharmaceutical department of the 
Northwestern University, at Chicago, from 
which he graduated with the degree of 
Ph. C, in 1897, with special mention for 
work in the microscopical laboratory. He 
was again with Snyder & Company for a 
short time and for one year was connected 
with the Grand Pacific Pharmacy, but in 
February, 1899, he was forced to resign his 
position on account of ill health and has 
since been at home. The family residence 
is a fine modern structure at No. 311 Wall 
street, where Mr. and Mrs. Boyd have 
spent their entire married life. The family 
are prominent members of the Presbyterian 
church and occupy an enviable position in 
social circles. 

Fraternally Mr. Boyd is also an active 
and influential member of Alpheus post, 
No. 1 18, G.A.R., of which he has been com- 
mander three times, and which he has rep- 
resented in the state encampment. He is 
a member of the Ivnights of the Maccabees, 
and his son belongs to Dunlap lodge. No. 
321, A. F. & A. M. Politically Mr. Boyd 
is a stanch Democrat, and for three terms 
of two years each he has been alderman 
from the third ward. During that time 
extensive improvements were made in the 
city. While chairman of the fire and water 
committee the fine water works system was 
inaugurated and the mains laid. He has 
also been a prominent and influential mem- 
ber of the school board for nine years, dur- 
ing which time the north side school was 
built and an addition made to the high 
school. His support is never withheld from 



any enterprise calculated to prove of public 
good, and he is regarded as a useful and 
valued citizen of the community. 



HARVEY C. HULL is now serving as 
police magistrate in Prophetstown, a 
position he has filled for eight years with 
credit to himself and satisfaction to his con- 
stituents. He is thoroughly impartial in 
meting out justice, his opinions are unbiased 
by either fear or favor, and his fidelity to 
the trust reposed in him is above question. 
Mr. Hull was born in Washington, 
Litchfield county, Connecticut, January 10, 
1830, a son of Bradford J. and Catherine 
(Teeple) Hull, also natives of that county, 
her father. Luke Teeple, being a represent- 
ative of one of its oldest families. From 
Litchfield county, the father of our subject 
removed to Woodbury, Connecticut, where 
he worked at the carpenter's and joiner's 
trade, and also owned and operated a farm 
and sawmill. He and his wife celebrated 
their golden wedding, September 17, 1872, 
and also the grandmother Teeple's one hun- 
dredth birthday; she is living to the remark- 
able old age of one hundred three and a half 
years. The father was presented with a 
gold headed cane on which was engraved 
his name and date. The cane was of oak 
made from a piece of timber taken from an 
old stone house erected at Guilford, Connect- 
icut, in 1640 and used as a fort. Mr. and 
Mrs. Hull spent their last days in Woodbury. 
In their family were nine children, namely: 
Charles B., who died in North Guilford; 
Mary, deceased wife of James Thomas, of 
Woodbury; Catherine A., deceased wife of 
W. H. Harrison, of North Guilford; Harvey 
C, our subject; Polly Ann, wife of Russell 
Potter, of North Guilford; Emily C.', wife of 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



49 i 



J. C. Harrison, of Northford; Annie F., 
now deceased, was the wife of Augustus S. 
Davis, of Woodbury; and William N., of 
Chicago, Illinois. With the exception of 
our subject and the youngest brother, all 
remained in Connecticut. 

In his native state, Harvey C. Hull 
grew to manhood, and under the direction 
of his father he learned the carpenter's and 
joiner's trade at Waterbury, Connecticut. 
There he was married, in 1850, to Miss 
Jeanette L. Scarritt, a native of Waterbury. 
In 1 85 5 they removed to Geneseo, Illinois. 
where he worked at his trade for about a 
year and then came to Prophetstown to en- 
gage in contracting and building. In 1859 
he started for Pike's Peak, going down the 
Mississippi and up the Missouri rivers as far 
as Kansas City, where he tnet so many re- 
turning from the gold fields and heard such 
adverse reports, that he turned back. He 
stopped at Fulton, Missouri, where he ob- 
tained a good position as a carpenter on the 
construction of the lunatic asylum and upon 
other buildings. He remained there until 
late in the summer of i860, and as a sub- 
contractor made considerable mone\'. His 
wife had joined him at Fulton. In the fall 
of i860 they returned to Connecticut, 
where he worked at his trade until 1862, 
and then again came to Prophetstown, Illi- 
nois, where he at first followed carpenter- 
ing and building. In 1871 he embarked in 
the grain and lumber business in Lyndon, 
to which point he had the first freight 
shipped over the new railroad. On the 
construction of the Chicago, Burlington & 
Ouincy Railroad through Prophetstown, he 
returned to this place, where he erected an 
elevator and engaged in the grain and lum- 
ber business with J. J. Greene for about 
three years, at the end of which time he 



sold out and turned his attention to the 
furniture trade, in which he was interested 
for eight years and a half. Later he con- 
ducted a drug store as a member of the firm 
of Hull & Smith, for three years and a 
half. 

Mr. Hull's first wife died in Prophets- 
town, February 11, 1866, leaving one son, 
Charles W., a banker and clothing mer- 
chant of Kirwin, Kansas. Mr. Hull was 
again married in Prophetstown, July 7, 
1S98, to Mrs. Harriett Gresty, a native of 
England, and a daughter of Peter and Har- 
riett (Hall) Langford. She was reared in 
Manchester, and was first married in Liver- 
pool, August 14, 1872, to James Gresty, 
also a native of England and a farmer by 
occupation. They emigrated to the new 
world in 1881, and located in Prophetstown, 
Illinois, on the 6th of May of that year. 
Here Mr. Gresty died March 10, 1891, 
leaving two children: Ollie and George, 
who is still attending school. 

On the 7th of October, 1864, our sub- 
ject enlisted in Company C, Seventy-fifth 
Illinois Volunteers, and was mustered in at 
Di.xon, Illinois. He was in the last battle 
at Nashville, Tennessee, and from there went 
to Huntsville, Chattanooga and Kno.wille 
and Elizabcthtown, Tennessee, and was 
finally discharged at Nashville, Tennessee, 
May 7, 1865, by the order of Secretary 
Stanton. 

On attaining his majority, Mr. Hull 
identified himself with the Whig party, but 
in 1 8 56 voted for John C. Fremont and has 
since been an ardent Repubfican. He has 
served as supervisor of this county for two 
years and was president of the board of 
village trustees for four years and a half. 
He was a member of a number of important 
committees, including those on bridges. 



492 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



equalization and the county house. He 
was a councilman for a number of terms, 
and since 1891 has served as police magis- 
trate. He has also been superintendent of 
the cemetery since 1881, and his various 
official duties have been performed in a 
most capable and satisfactory manner. He 
is a Royal Arch Mason, a member of the 
Blue lodge and chapter of Prophetstown, 
and both he and his wife belong to the 
Eastern Star and are members of the Con- 
gregational church. 



JOHN P. FULLER, a veteran agricult- 
urist, now retired from the activities of 
life, is spending his declining days in peace 
and plenty on the homestead which he re- 
claimed from its primitive wildness, in sec- 
tion 21, Portland township. For three 
score and three years, or since 1836, he has 
been a resident of Whiteside county, and 
has been an interested witness of the vari- 
ous changes that have taken place, watch- 
ing with delight the rapid transformation of 
timber land and prairie into a rich and pro- 
ductive agricultural country, at the same 
time aiding by every means within his power 
its growth and advancement. As a man of 
honesty and integrity, and one of the few 
remaining pioneers of his day, he is held in 
high honor by his fellow-townsmen, and is 
universally respected. He was born July 
4, 1822, in Cattaraugus count}'. New York, 
a son of Levi Fuller, and grandson of Ed- 
mund Fuller, a pioneer of Oneida county. 
New York. 

Levi Fuller was born, bred and educated 
in Oneida county, New York, from whence 
he went in early manhood to Cattaraugus 
county where he took up wild land and es- 
tablished himself as a farmer. In 1831 he 



removed with his family to Erie county, 
Pennsylvania, and there continued his chosen 
occupation five years. In 1836 he emigrated 
to the broad prairies of the west, making 
the journey through the intervening forests 
with teams, and bring with him his wife and 
children and all his worldly possessions. 
He came directly to Whiteside county, ar- 
riving in Portland township February 6, 
and took up a claim of one hundred and 
sixty acres, one-half of which was timber 
land. He built a log house in which he 
and his family dwelt ten years, and begun 
breaking up and improving his claim. He 
subsequently sold his first purchase, and 
buying another farm in the same township 
was there engaged in the pursuit of agricult- 
ure until his demise, in 1856. His wife, 
whose maiden name was Betsey Martin, was 
also a native of Oneida county, New York. 
She survived him many years, passing away 
in August, 1887, at the venerable age of 
ninety-si.x years. She bore her husband ten 
children, seven sons and three daughters, 
all of whom grew to years of maturity, and 
of whom three sons and one daughter are 
now living. 

John P. Fuller, a lad of fourteen years 
when he came to Portland township, com- 
pleted his education in the pioneer schools 
of his day, and during his minority assisted 
his father in clearing the parental home- 
stead. After his marriage, in 1846, he 
rented land on which he farmed three or 
four years; then taking up a claim of one 
hundred and twenty acres he began the 
laborious task of developing a productive 
farm. Erecting a log cabin for himself and 
family as the first necessary improvement, 
he occupied it several years before his 
means warranted his building his present 
substantial residence, and other convenient 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



493 



farm buildings. Before commencing opera- 
tions on a large scale much of his land had 
to be cleared of timber, or the swamps 
drained, but his resolution and unbounded 
energy overcome all obstacles, so that his 
farm in point of improvements now stands 
second to none in this locality. The diffi- 
culties that beset the pioneers of his time 
can be scarce imagined by the younger 
generation. Deer, wolves, and other wild 
beasts of the forest were plentiful, and 
though their flesh sometimes furnished food 
for the family they often terrorized the few 
inhabitants of the place. A large part of 
the year the roads were in a fearful condi- 
tion making the journey to Chicago, whither 
the surplus produce had to be taken by 
team, there being no thought of railways 
then, a trip to be dreaded. Mr. Fuller 
carried on mi.xed farming for many years, 
and in addition to this was prosperously 
engaged in stock raising and dealing, be- 
coming one of the best known stockmen of 
the county. 

Mr. F"uller was married in Warren 
county, Illinois, June 25, 1846, to Miss 
Almira Lamphcre, who was born in Oneida 
county, New York, August 5, 1S21, a 
daughter of Caleb P. and Lucinda (Martin) 
Lamphere. Her parents emigrated to Illi- 
nois in 1842, settling first in Warren county, 
from whence, in 185 1, they removed to 
Whiteside county, where they spent the re- 
mainder of their lives. Of the union of 
Mr. and Mrs. Fuller seven children have 
been born, two of whom have passed to the 
life beyond, Guy E. having died at the age 
of fourteen years, and Alma M. when eleven 
years old. Those now living are as follows: 
Clark C, a farmer in the past, served as 
deputy sheriff twelve years, and as sheriff four 
years; Willis H., a business man of Port- 



land township, is married and has one 
child, luiwin; Emma J., wife of Charles E. 
Sibley, of this county, has seven children, 
Grace, Robert, Frank, Ralph, Jay, F"ree- 
man and George; Lydia L. , wife of Henry 
Sibley, has one child, Ray; and Kate E., 
wife of George Talcott, a farmer of Port- 
land township, has four children. Bertha, 
Laura, Clara, and Ilattie. 

On June 25, 1896, Mr. and Mrs. Fuller 
celebrated their golden wedding, children, 
grandchildren and friends to the number 
of one hundred or more gathering at 
their home. Hearty congratulations to 
the aged couple were e.xtended; the boun- 
tiful repast was enjoyed by all; and after 
an evening of joyful sociability the nu- 
merous guests departed, leaving as golden 
mementoes of the occasion many articles 
of value, including a a gold watch for Mr. 
Fuller, and a quantity of gold coins for his 
worthy wife. 

In 1844 our subject witnessed a terrible 
cyclone which destroyed all property in its 
wake. It took the house which he was in 
from its foundation and scattered it for 
miles, and crippled him so that he feels the 
effects to this day. It also destroyed a 
great deal of stock and killed several people 
in the neighborhood. 

Politically Mr. Fuller was a Jeffersonian 
Democrat for many years, but in i860 and 
1864 he gave to Abraham Lincoln his pres- 
idential vote, and since that time has sup- 
ported the measures of the Prohibition 
party. Although never an aspirant for 
official honors he has not shirked his duties 
as a public-spirited citizen, but has served 
with acceptance to all concerned as com- 
missioner of highways for seventeen years, 
and for a number of terms was a school 
director. 



494 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



WILBUR D. HEATH, a reliable and 
intelligent young agriculturist of Lyn- 
don township, who owns and operates a fine 
farm of one hundred and twenty acres on 
section 5, is a native of Whiteside county, 
born near Round Grove, July i, 1871. His 
parents were George and Electa (Fellows) 
Heath. The father was a native of Massa- 
chusetts, as were also his parents, Ira and 
Mary (Harmon) Heath. The grandmother 
of our subject was born in 1820, and is now 
living in Hopkins township, this county. 
She is the mother of five children, but 
Henry, a resident of Hopkins township, is 
the only one now living. Throughout his 
active business life the father of our subject 
followed farming, but during his last years 
was unable to engage in active labor on 
account of the effects of a stroke of paraly- 
sis. He died in 1876, and his wife passed 
away two years later. Six children were 
born to them, but two died in infancy. 
Those living are as follows: Laura is now 
the wife of Leroy Garrison, a carpenter of 
Fenton township, and they have one child 
living, Loyal, and two deceased, Lelia and 
Nina. Charles, now a farmer of Dakota, 
married Hattie Garrison, and they have five 
children, Glenn, Bessie, Vera, Charles M. 
and one whose name is unknown. Wilbur, 
our subject, is the ne.xt of the family. Wil- 
lis, who is unmarried, makes his home with 
his brother Charles in Dakota. 

After the death of his parents, Wilbur 
Heath was adopted by Charles Ristrow, 
with whom he remained five years, and 
was educated in the country schools near 
Tampico. At the age of fifteen he started 
out in life for himself as a farm hand, and 
was thus employed until his marriage, after 
which he worked by the day for a year. 
The following two years he operated a 



rented farm, and then purchased one hun- 
dred and twenty acres in Lyndon township, 
for which he paid sixty dollars per acre. 
Here he has since successfully engaged in 
general farming, and his honorable, upright 
course commends him to the confidence and 
high regard of all with whom he has deal- 
ings. In his political affiliations he is a 
Republican. 

On the 5th of June, 1895, Mr. Heath was 
united in marriage with Miss Jeannie B. 
Matthew, who was born in Hopkins town- 
ship, April 7, 1869, and to them were born 
two children: Lloyd T., who died in infancy ; 
and Bessie L. Mrs. Heath's parents were 
Thomas and Anna (Thomson) Matthew, 
both natives of Scotland, the former born 
July 15, 1808. To them were born five 
children, of whom one died young. One of 
those still living is Jeannie, wife of our sub- 
ject. William Archibald, a resident of 
Hopkins township, married Lizzie Matznick 
and has two children, Ralph and Glen. 
Robert A., a graduate of Rush Medical 
College, Chicago, and now a physician of 
Laveta, Colorado, married Gertrude Lewis 
and has one son, Lewis T. Elizabeth G. is 
thewifeof Jacob Steiner,who lives on apart of 
the home farm in Hopkins township, and they 
have one daughter, Jeannie Verle. Thomas 
Matthew, the father of these children, first 
married Margaret Dumire, a native of Scot- 
land, by whom he had two children, of 
whom Robert died young, while Thomas is 
still living. The latter married Euphemia 
Dalrymple and they have one son, Harold 
T. In early life Mrs. Heath's father came 
to America and for some time made his home 
in Virginia, but in 1835 became a resident of 
Whiteside county, Illinois, where he died 
December 10, 1892. By occupation he was 
a farmer. His second wife, Mrs. Anna 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



495 



Matthew, came to this state when only four 
years old, and died in 1876. Mrs. Heath's 
paternal grandparents, Robert and Margaret 
(Thomson) Matthew, were life-long resi- 
dents of Scotland. 



CHARLES NASH RUSSELL. The de- 
served reward of a well spent life is an 
honored retirement from business, in which 
to enjoy the fruits of former toil. To-day, 
after a useful and beneficial career, Mr. 
Russell is quietly living at his beautiful 
home at No. 702 Second avenue, Sterling, 
surrounded by all the comforts that earnest 
labor has brought him. He has been a res- 
ident of this county since the spring of 1846, 
and has lived in Sterling since 1863. 

Mr. Russell was born in Greenfield, 
Massachusetts, February 3, 1826, a son of 
Charles and Adeline (Nash) Russell. The 
father was born in Northampton, Massa- 
chusetts, May 26, 1797, of English descent, 
and was a representative of the same fami- 
ly to which Lord John Ru.s.sell belonged, 
the family being founded in this country by 
three brothers of the Duke of Bedford. 
The great-great-grandfather of our subject 
was Hezekiah Russell, a farmer of Con- 
necticut. His son. Hezekiah Russell, Jr. , 
was born in Wethersfield, Connecticut, 
and at the age of si.xteen went to Northamp- 
ton, Massachusetts. He was a captain in 
the state militia and a carpenter by trade. 
His son, Thaddeus Russell, grandfather of 
our subject, also followed that occupation. 
He was born in Northampton and died at 
the age of fifty years. The father, Charles 
Russeir, followed the tailor's trade through- 
out life. On the 21st of January, 1823, he 
married Miss Adeline Nash, who was born 
in Du.xbury, Vermont, February 12, 1805, 



a daughter of Eber Nash, a pioneer of that 
state. To them were born eleven children, 
nine sons and two daughters, of whom five 
sons came west, our subject being the first 
of these. Seven of the family are still liv- 
ing. After his marriage the father removed 
to Greenfield, Massachusetts, and in 1829 
took up his residence in Colrain, where he 
died May 6, 1871. The wife and mother 
passed away September 23, 1882. Both 
were faithful members of the Methodist 
Episcopal church, in which he served as 
class leader and chorister for some years. 

During his boyhood Charles N. Russell, 
of this sketch, worked in Colrain, until six- 
teen jears of age, and then went to New 
Salem, Massachusetts, to live with a Uni- 
tarian clergyman, and while there was given 
an academic education. In 1846 he came 
to Como, Whiteside county, Illinois, and 
spent the last year of his minority with the 
son of the minister. He taught school in 
Princeton, Illinois, for two winters and then 
accepted the position of clerk with the firm 
of Holmes & Hopgood. In their employ 
he often drove a team to Chicago for goods, 
as not a foot of railroad had yet been built 
in the state. He remained with that firm 
four years, receiving one hundred and ten 
dollars per year and his board, and for the 
second one hundred and fifty dollars. 

On the 25th of December, 1851, Mr. 
Russell was united in marriage with Miss 
Julia T. Sampson, and the next spring 
started in business for himself on a small 
scale at Como, where he built up a good 
trade. He also served as postmaster of the 
place and as town clerk for a number of 
years. Besides his business property he 
owned a farm near Como. In 1863 he 
removed to Sterling and opened a general 
store on Third street, but later engaged in 



496 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



the clothing business with excellent success 
for a number of years, as a member of the 
firm of Russell tS: Barrett. He erected the 
building in which they carried on business 
and built up an excellent trade, but retired 
from the firm over twenty years ago. About 
fifteen years ago he purchased a farm, which 
he operated for a few years, but has now 
laid aside all business cares. He was one 
of the organizers and directors of the Sterl- 
ing National Bank for some years, and still 
owns two store buildings on Third street 
besides his residence property. For the 
success that he has achieved in life he de- 
serves great credit, for it is due entirely to 
his own energetic and well-directed efforts. 
On coming to this state his capital was very 
limited. He paid one dollar for the privi- 
lege of riding on a wagon from Chicago to 
Dixon, and as he had but a dollar remain- 
ing when he arrived in the latter city, he 
walked from there to Como. His labors 
have been crowned with prosperity, and he 
is now quite well-to-do, afile to spend his de- 
clining years in ease and comfort, free from 
the turmoil of business life. He is a stanch 
supporter of the Republican party, and has 
served as alderman from the Third ward of 
Sterling. 

Mrs. Russell, who is a consistent mem- 
ber of the Congregational church, was born 
in Duxbury, Massachusetts, June i6, 1825, a 
daughter of Captain Henry Briggs and Nancy 
(Turner) Sampson, and granddaughter of 
Colonel William Turner, of Massachusetts. 
Mrs. Russell's father, who was an old sea 
captain, removed from Massachusetts to 
Maine, where he spent two years, and in 
1836 came to Illinois. After spending three 
years in Tremont, Tazewell county, he came 
to Como with its first colony and engaged 
in the hotel business here for several years 



on the old stage line from Chicago to Rock 
Island. Many noted people of the country 
stopped with him during early days. He 
died in Como, December 31, 1S65, and his 
wife passed away October 5, 1854. His 
father was Job Sampson, also a sea captain, 
who was born September 19, 1766, and was 
descended from Henry Sampson, one of the 
Mayflower passengers. From Henry he 
traced his ancestry through Caleb, David 
and Chapin. The family lived in the neigh- 
borhood of Duxbury, Massachusetts, for 
many years and intermarried with the 
Standish and Alden families. Caleb Samp- 
son, previously mentioned, wedded Mercy 
Standish, daughter of Alexander Standish 
and granddaughter of Miles Standish. David 
Sampson married Mary Chapin, of Marsh- 
field, Massachusetts, and their son. Cap- 
tain Job Sampson, married Betsy, third 
daughter of Samuel Windsor, of Duxbury, 
a descendant of Philip de Lanoie, who came 
to Plymouth on the Fortune in 1621. Mr. 
and Mrs. Russell have two children: Anna 
F. , at home; and Charles Turner, who mar- 
ried May Hubbard, a native of Vermont, and 
now resides in Sterling. 



DE WITT C. WAITE is a successful 
agriculturist residing on section 5, 
Ustick township, where he operates two 
hundred and forty acres of land. He does 
not confine his attention to one line of oc- 
cupation, however, but as an attorney has 
built up a good practice in both Fulton and 
Ustick. He is wide-awake, energetic and 
progressive, and has displayed excellent 
business ability in the management of his 
affairs. 

Mr. Waite was born in Chickasaw coun- 
ty, Iowa, April 22, 1866, a son of Cyrus H. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



497 



and Catharine (Noble) Waite. His pater- 
nal grandfather was Downer Waite, an ex- 
tensive farmer of Lawrence county, New 
York, who owned one thousand acres of 
land which he divided among his children. 
He had five sons and five daughters, of 
whom the following are still living: Will- 
iam W. , a resident of Erie, Whiteside coun- 
ty, Illinois; Byron, of Henry county, Mis- 
souri; Hannah, wife of Follet Johnson, of 
New York; Melvina, wife of John Hitch- 
cock, of St. Lawrence county. New York; 
and Cyrus H., father of our subject. In 
early life the last named followed the car- 
penter's trade and also worked as a bridge 
builder, but later turned his attention to 
agricultural pursuits. He was born near 
Rutland, Vermont, July 22, 1830, and is 
now living retired in Prophetstown, White- 
side county, Illinois, where he owns a com- 
fortable residence besides a country home 
on forty-four acres of land in Portland and 
Prophetstown townships. His wife, who 
was born in Essex county. New York, in 
1838, died on the home farm in 1892. Her 
parents were natives of Canada and of Eng- 
lish descent. 

Our subject is one of a family of twelve 
children, nine sons and three daughters, of 
whom one died in infancy. The others are 
as follows: Almira, wife of Fred Reynolds, 
a carpenter of Prophetstown, by whom she 
has two children, Catharine and Gordon; 
Celia, wife of Charles Turner, also a car- 
penter of Prophetstown, by whom she has 
two children, Richard and Mina; Douglas 
A., who is clerking in a store in Prophets- 
town; Downer, who married Eliza Turner 
and is working at the carpenter's trade in 
the same place; De WittC, our subject; 
Fred, a resident of Prophetstown; Almon, 
bookkeeper for a baggage and express coni- 



pany in Chicago; Harry, an attorney of 
Prophetstown; Dolly, wife of Clate Seeley, 
a farmer near Prophetstown; and William 
and Luther, both at home. 

During his boyhood and youth De Witt 
C. Waite attended the country schools and 
worked on the home farm. Later he was 
a student at the Northern IMinois Normal 
School at Fulton, from which institution he 
was graduated, and also graduated from the 
law department with the degree of Ph. D. 
Subsequently he taught school for ten years, 
and after his admission to the bar engaged 
in practice for two or three years, and then 
turned his attention to farming and stock 
raising, making a specialty of cattle and 
hogs. He still has a law office in Fulton, 
and enjoys quite an extensive practice in 
that place, Thompson and Ustick. 

On the 20th of June, 188S, was cele- 
brated the marriage of Mr. Waite and Miss 
Cora Barrett, who was born in Carroll 
county, Illinois, May 31, 1868, and was ed- 
ucated in the district schools and Fulton 
College, where she pursued a scientific 
course and was graduated. Her parents, 
Henry S. and Abigail E. (Safford) Barrett, 
were both natives of New York, the former 
born in 1831, the latter in 1841, and from 
Essex county, that state, they came to 
\\hiteside county, Illinois, in 1849. Here 
the father engaged in farming for a time, 
but is now living retired in Fulton, though 
he still owns a farm in this county and an- 
other in Carroll county. In his family are 
two daughters, Cora, wife of our subject; 
and Mabel R., at home. Mr. and Mrs. 
Waite have two children, namely: Pearl, 
born in 1890; and Cyrus H., born in 1892. 

At the age of ten years, Mr. Waite was 
taken by his father to Iowa, where he spent 
five years in true pioneer style. He has 



498 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



been chased by wolves, and has broken 
prairie with three yoke of oxen. He also 
herded cattle for a time in Clay county, 
that state. Politically he is an ardent Re- 
publican, has been a delegate to the county 
conventions of his party, and was elected 
supervisor, which office he resigned as he 
had not the time he believed necessary to 
devote to its duties. While a member of 
the county board he was on several impor- 
tant committees — the judiciary, county 
house and claims. As a business man he 
has met with most excellent success, and 
besides his valuable farm of two hundred 
and forty acres, he owns three houses and 
twelve lots in Fulton. Both he and his 
wife are charter members of Ustick lodge. 
No. 9, Mystic Workers, and are also earnest 
members of the Presbyterian church, taking 
an active interest in its work, while Mr. 
Waite has filled the office of elder. 



HORACE B. COLE. For almost sixty 
years our subject has been a resident 
ol Whiteside county, and has witnessed 
almost its entire development. On leaving 
here in June, 1840, wolves, deer and other 
wild game were plentiful. He has seen the 
wild lands transformed into beautiful homes 
and farms, hamlets grow into villages and 
thriving towns, the railroads, telegraphs 
and telephones introduced, and all of the 
interests and evidences of an advanced 
civilization adopted. He made his home in 
Portland township, where for many years 
he was actively engaged in agricultural pur- 
suits, but has now laid aside all business 
cares and is living retired in Prophetstown. 
Mr. Cole was born in Erie county, New 
York, June 10, 1819, a son of Daniel F. 
and Mary (Fones) Cole, who were born, 



reared and married in Rhode Island. His 
paternal grandparents were Daniel and 
Margaret (Sherman) Fones. The former 
was also born in Rhode Island, of English 
ancestry, and was a soldier of the Revolu- 
tionary war. The father of our subject was 
a soldier of the war of 1812. On leaving 
his native state he removed to Erie county. 
New York, where he improved and culti- 
vated a farm, making it his home until 
called from this life at the age of eighty- 
four years. His wife survived him for some 
time and was nearly ninety years of age at 
the time of her death. 

In the county of his nativity, our sub- 
ject passed his boyhood and youth in much 
the usual manner of farmer boys of his day, 
his early education being somewhat limited, 
but later he attended the Aurora Academy 
for two or three terms. He then engaged 
in teaching in Erie county. New York, and 
also after coming to this county, following 
the profession for about ten years. In 1840, 
in company with an older brother, Daniel 
F. Cole, Jr., who first came to this county 
in 1837, our subject started westward, travel- 
ing by team from Buffalo. They were twenty- 
two days upon the road, and arrived herein 
|une, 1840. Mr. Cole took up a claim of 
one hundred and sixty acres in Portland town- 
ship, erected thereon a cabin, and immedi- 
ately began to transform the wild prairie 
land to highly cultivated fields. The fol- 
lowing year he entered the land from the 
government, and fenced a portion of it, and 
as time advanced he made many valuable 
improvements thereon, including the erec- 
tion of a pleasant residence, good barn and 
other outbuildings. In those early days he 
hauled his grain and farm produce to the 
Chicago markets, the trip occupying from 
eight to twelve days. Later he purchased 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



499 



two hundred and forty-five acres of land 
near Geneseo, Henry county, and improved 
that place, and also bought three hundred 
and twenty acres of raw land in Willow 
county, Nebraska. Throughout his active 
business life he engaged in general farming 
and stock raising with marked success, and 
as he prospered in his undertakings he is 
now able to lay aside all the cares and re- 
sponsibilities of business life and live retired 
at his pleasant home in Prophetstown. In 
1896 he rented his farm to his son, but has 
since given him the place. 

Mr. Cole was married in this county, in 
1858, to Miss Belinda H. Brewer, a native 
of Massachusetts, who came here when a 
child with her father, Nathan Brewer, one 
of the early settlers of Portland township. 
Mrs. Cole died June i (, 1896, and was laid 
to rest in Sharon cemetery, Portland town- 
ship. By this union three children were 
born, namely: Hugh W., a lawyer and 
farmer of McCook, Nebraska; Tibbie, wife 
of Emmett Brooks, a farmer of Atkinson 
township, Henry county, Illinois; and Fred 
H., a resident of Prophetstown. 

In early life Mr. Cole was a supporter 
of the old-line Whig party, casting his first 
vote for "Tippecanoe and Tyler, too," in 
1840, but, in 1856, he voted for John C. 
Fremont, and has sinc^ been a stanch Re- 
publican. He has been a delegate to nu- 
merous conventions of his party and has 
been honored with official positions of trust 
and responsibility, serving as supervisor for 
about twelve years, during which time he 
was a member of several important com- 
mittees, and as assessor and trustee of his 
township. He has also been actively identi- 
fied with the educational interests of his 
community, laid out the school lands for 
Portland township, was a member of the 



school board for a number of years, and 
school commissioner for about fifteen years. 
He is a prominent member of Prophetstown 
lodge, F. & A. M., of which he is past 
master and which he has represented in the 
grand lodge; and he is also past grand of 
I. O. O. F. lodge. He is honored and re- 
spected wherever known, and on the rolls 
of Whiteside county's prominent pioneers 
and representative citizens his name should 
be among the foremost. 



CHARLES A. HAMILTON, a represent- 
ative farmer of Whiteside county, 
whose home is on section 20, Lyndon town- 
ship, was born on the farm where he still 
resides, September 13, 1858, and is the son 
of John M. and Anna B. Hamilton, his 
father being one of the honored pioneers 
aud highly respected citizens of the county. 
John M. Hamilton was born in North- 
ampton, Hampshire county, Massachusetts, 
May II, 1814, and is the son of Adam R. 
and Nancy (Miller) Hamilton, also natives 
of Massachusetts, from which state they re- 
moved with their family to New York, when 
John M. was about eight years old. They 
located in (Clarendon, Orleans county, where 
they were pioneers. While yet residing in 
that county, John M. e.xperienced the relig- 
ion of Jesus Christ and united with the Con- 
gregational church. He also about that 
time signed the temperance pledge, which 
he has faithfully kept to the present time. 
In 1835 he accompanied his father and the 
family to Whiteside county. Chauncy G. 
Woodruff and \\'illiam D. Dudley were in 
the party, and they came through with 
horse teams and covered wagous. They 
left their homes in New York May 11, 1835, 



500 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



and in their journeying passed through the 
states of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan and 
Indiana to Chicago, thence to Plainfield, 
Illinois, where the women and children were 
left, the men proceeding on their way in 
search of a location. In speaking of this 
event, John M. Hamilton thus writes; 

"After leaving the families at Plainfield, 
my father, William D. Dudley and C. G. 
Woodruff and myself came to Rock river at 
Dixon, at which time there was but one log 
house there. We wished to go down Rock 
river to Prophetstown, and were told to go 
two miles south on the Peoria road, then 
turn to the right and follow an Indian trail 
which would lead us directly to Prophets- 
town. We started out looking for the trail, 
and when we had gone two miles or more, 
we failed to see any old trail, but came to a 
new trail which we followed into the Winne- 
bago swamps and got lost. On Saturday 
morning we thought we would go straight 
north till we struck Rock river. Having a 
pocket compass to guide us, we struck out, 
expecting to strike the river every minute. 
At night when we camped out the mosqui- 
toes were so thick that the air was full of 
them. We built a fire which we covered 
with prairie sod, which made a big smoke. 
This kept the pests away. We remained in 
camp all day Sunday, but started out bright 
and early Monday morning, and struck 
Rock river about night at Prophetstown, 
where we found one old settler, Asa Crook, 
who had settled there the previous year. 
We remained with him a day or two, and 
then crossed Rock river in Mr. Crook's 
ferry boat, poling across. We came up 
through the Ox Bow, through the tall prai- 
rie grass, striking the bluff ten or twelve 
rods west of the Prophetstown road, and 
went west until we came to where is now 



Mr. Dudley's door yard. We camped there 
until the next day, when we went north in 
the Rock creek timber, which we claimed, 
together with the prairie between it and 
camp. The next day we went southwest 
down into what we call the "big woods," 
and claimed it, and the prairie between it 
and the camp, holding it for our friends. 
We then went to work to build a shanty 
twelve feet square of poles, and when it was 
high enough to put on the roof, father and 
Mr. Dudley went to Plainfield for the fam- 
ilies. 

In May, 1848, John M. Hamilton mar- 
ried Miss Prudence Wright, in Northamp- 
ton, Hampshire county, Massachusetts, by 
which union there were three children born, 
(i) John L. is married and has two chil- 
dren, Prudence E. and Ray M. The first 
named is married and makes her home in 
Chicago. (2) Caroline married J. H. 
Smith and died in Kansas, after which the 
family moved to Morrison, Illinois. She 
had six children: Anna, Bessie, Kate, 
Amelia, Brent and Helen. (3) Elvira mar- 
ried Philip Stone, of Lyndon, and died dur- 
ing a surgical operation in Chicago, leaving 
two sons, Evans and Karl. Mrs. Prudence 
Hamilton died August 27, 1855, and for his 
second wife, Mr. Hamilton married Mrs. 
Anna B. \\'oodard, whose maiden name 
was Thompson, in Adrian, Michigan. She 
died November 17, 1890. By this second 
union there were three children. George 
died in infancy. Frederick E. married 
Carolina Perry, by whom he had one son, 
Charles L. , a resident of Chicago. Fred- 
erick died in 1898. Charles A. is the sub- 
ject of this sketch. Since the death of his 
wife. John M. Hamilton has made his 
home with our subject upon the farm where 
he located on first coming to the county al- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



SOI 



most sixty-five years ago. At that time 
there were no improvements upon the 
place and what is now highly cultivated 
fields was then wild prairie. Mr. Hamilton 
successfully engaged in general farming and 
stock raising until about ten years ago, 
when he laid aside business cares and has 
since lived retired. Since the formation of 
the Republican party he has been one of its 
stanch supporters. 

Charles A. Hamilton, of this review, 
was reared on the old homestead where he 
now resides, and was educated in the dis- 
trict schools of the neighborhood. He now 
operates the farm, comprising two hundred 
and fifty-nine acres, and is also engaged in 
buying hay and straw and baling it for ship- 
ment. On the 23d of June, iSSi, he was 
united in marriage with Miss Theora Emily 
Helms, a daughter of Henry E. and Lucy 
(Gould) Helms, whose sketch appears on 
another page of this volume. By this union 
seven children were born, two dying in in- 
fancy, and one, Herbert E., died at the age 
of three years. Those living are, namely: 
Grace E., Arthur E., Lucy A. and John H. 

In his political affiliations Mr. Hamilton 
is a Republican, and is one of the leading 
politicians of Lyndon township, as well as 
one of its representative men. He is a 
member of the town committee, has been 
appointed judge of election for a number of 
years, has filled the office of town clerk for 
five years, and for four consecutive years 
has most acceptably served as assessor. 
He is a member of Lyndon lodge. No. 
750, F. & A. M., of which he is now mas- 
ter. Also a charter member of the Modern 
Woodmen of America of Lyndon, and a 
charter member of the Knights of Phythias 
lodge at Prophetstown, and of Mystic 
Workers of the World, No. 41, at Lyndon. 



JOSHUA HOLLINSHEAD, who owns 
and succes.sfuliy operates an excellent 
farm of two hundred and twenty-five acres 
of land on sections 7 and 8, Ustick town- 
ship, and also another of one hundred and 
twelve acres on section 12, Fulton town- 
ship, was born near Toronto, in upper 
Canada, September 7, 1827, and is a son of 
John and Elizabeth (Rush) Hollinshead, the 
former of Welsh and the latter of English 
descent. Both families were founded in 
America during colonial days. The mother 
was born December 12, 1806, and was a 
descendant of Dr. Rush, one of the signers 
of the Declaration of Independence. Her 
mother, Mrs. Julia A. Rush, did garrison 
duty in the Revolutionary war. The father 
of our subject was born near Trenton, New 
Jersey, January 6, 1798, and brought his 
family to Whiteside county, Illinois, when 
Joshua was only thirteen years of age. He 
located in what is now Clyde township, 
which at that time had not been surveyed, 
and took up a half section of land, which he 
commenced to improve, but died in 1S42, 
about a year after his arrival. His wife 
survived him a number of years, dying in 
1864. In their family were seven children, 
namely: Joshua, our subject; Julia Ann, 
who married C. C. Knight, and died in i S83 ; 
Jacob, who died in Fulton, Illinois, in 1895; 
Daniel, who also resides on section 8, Ustick 
township; Lydia, deceased wife of D. Far- 
well, a retired farmer; Mary, wife of H. 
Worthington, of Fulton, and Emily, also a 
native of Fulton. 

The early life of our subject was passed 
upon the frontier in true pioneer style, and 
he was educated in the primitive log school- 
house with its slab benches for seats. Being 
the oldest of the family, he took charge of 
the home farm after his father's death, and 



502 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



successfully carried on the same until the 
children were grown. In 1848 he was 
united in marriage with Miss Nancy Ingham, 
a native of New York state, who died in 
1858, leaving two sons. John David, the 
elder, died in Idaho at the age of twenty- 
eight years. Reuben P. was a soldier in 
the Seventh Corps in the Civil war, and 
since his discharge has engaged in the 
bakery business. He married Mary S. 
Brumagine and they have three children, 
two sons and one daughter. 

After the death of his wife Mr. Hollins- 
head disposed of his business interests here 
and went west for his health, but returned 
to this county at the time of his mother's 
death. Later he married Mrs. Mehitable 
(Applebee) Lawrence, widow of Albert Law- 
rence. By her first marriage she had one 
son. Professor Wallace G. Lawrence, who 
was reared by our subject from the age of 
si.\ years. By the second union five chil- 
dren were born, but two died in infancy. 
Those living are George, a resident of Ful- 
ton, who married Addie Fisk and has four 
daughters; Mattie, wife of Waite Lewis, 
who lives east of Morrison, and by whom 
she has one son; and Emma, wife of Ed- 
ward Blodgett, who is a graduate of a law 
college and a resident of Fulton. The 
mother of these children died July 9, 1882, 
and Mr. Hollinshead was again married 
August 21, 1883, his third union being with 
Miss Emma Wilson, who was born in St. 
Louis, Missouri, November 6, 1859, and is 
daughter of John and Ann (Wilson) Wilson, 
the former a native of Toronto, Canada, 
the latter of England. At the opening of 
the Civil war Mr. Wilson was a railroad 
engineer in the south, but, being a Union 
sympathizer, had to come north. He was 
captured and wounded, still carrying a rebel 



bullet in his body. He now makes his 
home in Clinton, Iowa. His wife died in 
1 88 1, leaving five children, namely: Emma, 
wife of our subject; Laura; Walter; Cora 
T. ; and Phernia, who married a nephew of 
our subject. 

Mr. Hollinshead is engaged in general 
farming and makes a specialty of baling 
hay, a part of which he ships and the re- 
mainder he sells to the home market. He 
has met with well deserved success in life 
and is now quite well-to-do. Between the 
ages of twenty and thirty years he devoted 
considerable time to hunting and trapping, 
not only because he enjoyed the sport, but 
also because it proved quite profitable 
financially. Four times he has crossed the 
plains and has keep a full account of each 
day during his travels. He is a stanch 
Democrat, and has taken quite an active 
and prominent part in local politics. His 
fellow citizens, recognizing his worth and 
ability, have elected him to several official 
positions of honor and trust, having served 
as supervisor two terms, assessor three 
terms, school trustee two terms, and road 
commissioner and director. He was also a 
member of the committee appointed to se- 
lect a name for his township, and in many 
ways has been prominently identified with 
public affairs. 



FREDERICK WOOD, a highly esteemed 
citizen of Morrison, who is now living 
retired from active labor, was born near the 
town of Oldham, in Yorkshire, England, 
April 8, 1832, a son of Joseph and Mary 
(Broadbent) Wood, also natives of that 
shire, where the father worked as a spinner 
in a woolen mill. When our subject was 
seven years of age the family came to Amer- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



503 



ica on a sailing vessel and were twenty-eight 
days in crossing the Atlantic. They landed 
in New York and from there went to Massa- 
chusetts, where they remained about a year, 
the father being employed in a woolen mill. 
Subsequently he worked for five or six years 
in Glenham, New York, and was similarly 
employed by a Mr. Higgins at Haverstraw, 
New York, for about three years. In Octo- 
ber, 1849, he came to Illinois in company 
with our subject, and purchased a claim in 
Clyde township, Whiteside county, which 
he immediately entered and to the cultiva- 
tion and improvement of which he and his 
son at once turned their attention. The 
following spring he was joined by his wife 
and the remainder of the family. Only 
thirty-five acres had previously been broken 
and a log house erected thereon. These 
constituted the only improvements. So 
sparely was the county settled at that time 
that not a house was in sight from their 
home and there were only two dwellings 
between it and Fulton and two between it 
and Sterling. They did most of their trad- 
ing at Fulton, which was then a little ham- 
let containing between twenty-five and fifty 
inhabitants, and was twelve miles across the 
open prairie from their home. The father 
continued the operation of this farm until 
he retired from active labor. He died in 
May, 1884, and his wife, who had preceded 
him to the world beyond, died April 9, 1873. 
They had four children: Joseph and Mary 
were twins. The former died at the age of 
twenty-three years, but the latter is still 
living and is the wife of Simon Stapleton, a 
retired citizen of Morrison. James married 
Elizabeth Demmon and is engaged in farm- 
ing near Edwardsburg, Michigan. F"red- 
erick completes the family. 

Coming to the United States at the age 



of seven years, our subject was reared in 
this country, but his school privileges were 
limited and the greater part of his education 
has been acquired by reading and observa- 
tion. At the age of eight he commenced 
working as a feeder in a mill at Glenham, 
New York, for one dollar and a quarter per 
week, and when twelve began working as a 
stripper in a tobacco shop, where he was 
employed until coming to Illinois, with the 
exception of one winter spent with his par- 
ents at Haverstraw, New York. 

Mr. Wood remained on the home farm 
until his marriage, which was celebrated De- 
cember 30, 1852, Miss Sarah Milnes becom- 
ing his wife. She was born in Lowell, 
Massachusetts, July 6, 1833, a daughter of 
Thomas and Sarah (Exley) Milnes, both na- 
tives of Yorkshire, luigland, the former 
born February 20, 1802, the latter January 
27, 1800. Her father was the oldest in a 
family of three children whose parents were 
Joseph and Ann Milnes, of Yorkshire. Jo- 
seph Milnes was a mechanic and a very 
clever man. Mrs. Wood's maternal grand- 
parents were John and Mary Exley, of York- 
shire, who came to America at an early day 
and located in Bloomfield, New Jersey; 
the grandfather established a woolen mill 
and engaged in the manufacture of blankets 
and cloth for men's underwear, having pre- 
viously been engaged in that business in the 
old country. He made his home in Bloom- 
field until his death. In his family were six 
children. In 1829 Thomas Milnes came to 
the new world and was seven weeks in cross- 
ing the ocean. He brought with him his 
wife and six children, of whom the eldest 
was but eight years of age. Arriving in New 
York, Mr. Milnes went at once to Bloam- 
field, New Jersey, where he worked as a 
blanket maker for a few months, and then 



S04 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



went to Lowell, Massachusetts, where he 
found employment at his trade of carpet 
weaving. On the 1st of June, 1842, he and 
his family arrived in Whiteside county, Illi- 
nois, and he purchased a claim of a Mr. 
Hollinshead, and entered the same that fall. 
Mr. Milnes in company with his eldest 
daughter returned east and the following 
spring was joined by his wife and four 
younger children, lea\ing two sons to oper- 
ate the farm while the younger members of 
the family were being educated. He died 
in the east June 12, 1847. Of his fourteen 
children, nine reached years of maturity, 
namely: Susanna first married William H. 
Ainley, by whom she had two children, 
Mary M. and Sarah L., who both died 
young. For her second husband she mar- 
ried Andrew Murray, but is now a widow. 
She has spent most of her life in the east 
but is now living with our subject. Rachel 
died at the age of seventeen years. John 
married Eliza Townsend, and died leaving 
four children. Ann married Chester Millard 
and died leaving one child. Thomas mar- 
ried Sarah Aldrell and died leaving five chil- 
dren. Mary died young. Joseph married 
Jame Masa and died leaving four children. 
Sarah is the wife of our subject. George 
was a soldier of Company C, Seventy-fifth 
Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was killed at 
the battle of Perryville during the Civil war. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Wood were born nine 
children, namely: (i) Mary is the wife of 
William Beswick, whose sketch appears on 
another page of this volume. (2) Joseph, 
who operates the old home farm in Clyde 
township, married Rebecca Jane King and 
had two children, Frank Mason and Eva 
M., the latter now deceased. (3) Thomas 
died in infancy. (4) Thomas M., a farmer 
of Clyde township, married Margaret Mason 



and has two children, Nettie M. and Andrew 
F. (5) Sarah is the wife of Charles Ken- 
nedy, of Clyde tovVnship, and they have one 
child, Mary L. (6) George is engaged in 
the lumber business in Montana. (7) Will- 
iam H., a farmer of Montana, married 
Clara Sheridan and has one child, George 
W. (8) Susan is the wife of Robert E. 
Cochran, of Morrison. (9) Edith is the 
wife of Pierre Jackson, of the same place. 
After his marriage Mr. Wood entered 
eighty acres of land in Clyde township, 
upon which he lived for two years and then 
sold and bought eighty acres of the farm 
which he still owns, but has since extended 
its boundaries until it contains two hundred 
acres. Under his able management the 
well tilled fields yielded bountiful crops and 
he gave considerable attention to the rais- 
ing of hogs for market. In March, 1882, he 
removed to Morrison in order to give his 
younger children better educational advan- 
tages, and there he has since made his home. 
He casts his ballot in support of the Repub- 
lican party and has always taken a deep 
and commendable interest in educational 
affairs, having for thirteen years efficiently 
served as school director. His wife is a 
member of the Episcopal church and both 
are held in high regard by all who know 
them. 



THOMAS HUGGINS, one of the most 
prosperous and successful agriculturists 
of Garden Plains township, Whiteside coun- 
ty, Illinois, comes from across the sea, his 
birth having occurred in I\ent county, Eng- 
land, August 8, 1 83 I. His parents, Thomas 
and Eliza Huggins, were farming people of 
Kent, where they spent their entire lives. 
Our subject was reared and educated in his 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



505 



native land, and was married on Christmas 
day, 1849, in Kent, to Miss Susan Ran- 
dolph, a daughter of William Randolph. 

After his marriage Mr. Huggins re- 
mained in England for four years, being 
engaged in agricultural pursuits, but in 
1853, with his wife and two children, he 
sailed for the new world. He first settled 
in New York state, where he followed farm- 
ing until 1856, and then came to Illinois, 
locating in Garden Plains township, White- 
side county. Here he purchased and im- 
proved a farm of one hundred acres, and 
meeting with success in his farming opera- 
tions, he has been able to add to his landed 
possessions until he now has a valuable land 
of four hundred acres, which is under excel- 
lent cultivation and improved with good 
buildings. He is a systematic and skillful 
farmer and a good business man of sound 
judgment and industrious habits. He car- 
ries on general farming and stock raising, 
but has never made a specialty of any one 
branch of agriculture. The success that he 
has achieved in life is due entirely to his 
own well-directed efforts, and for the same 
be deserves great credit. Politically he is 
identified with the Republican party, and 
gives his support to all measures which he 
believes will be of public good. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Huggins were born 
twelve children, namely: Thomas, born in 
England, May 12, 1850, wedded Mary 
Drury and is now engaged in farming in 
Newton township, this county; Edward, 
born in England, January 8, 1852, married 
Mary Hudson, by whom he had si.\ chil- 
dren, and also followed farming in Newton 
township; Eliza, born in New York state, 
January 22, 1854, is the wife of Jtjhn Jor- 
dan, a farmer of Garden Plains township, 
and they have one child; George, born in 

29 



New York, April 11, 1856, married Henri- 
etta Bolds, by whom he has four children, 
and is engaged in farming in Garden Plains 
township; Henry, born in this county, No- 
vember 23, 1857, resides on the home farm; 
Oliver O., born December 2, 1859, married 
Minnie Randolph, by whom he has one 
child, and they live in Albany, Illinois; 
Erank, born October 5, 18C1, married 
Luella Shears, by whom he has three chil- 
dren, and he followed farming in Newton 
township; Rosa Emma, born August 10, 
1863, is the wife of George Heffelfinger, a 
farmer of Garden Plains township; Eanny 
M., born July 29, 18&5, is the wife of Har- 
vey Byers, a United Brethren minister of 
Kent, Illinois, and they have three children: 
Freddy, born September 27, 1867, died 
when about three years old; Amelia A., 
born March 29, 1871, is the wife of Albert 
Curry, a farmer of Newton township, and 
they have two children; Albert J., born 
September 8, 1872, wedded Mary Udy, by 
whom he has two children, and he is en- 
gaged in farming in Garden Plains township. 



SAMUEL BLAGG, who is practically liv- 
ing a retired life in Erie, Illinois, was 
born in Gallia county, Ohio, July 14, 1827, 
and is a son of Isaac and Polly (Steele) 
Blagg. The father was a native of Vir- 
ginia and a shoemaker by trade, but fol- 
lowed the occupation of farming during the 
greater part of his life. He was killed by a 
horse when our subject was quite young, 
but the mother is still living at the ad- 
vanced age of ninety-four years, and makes 
her home in Ohio. In their family were 
six children, as follows: \\'illiam, who died 
in infancy; Allen, who died when young; 
Samuel, our subject; Betsy Ann, wife of 



5o6 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



William C. Glenn, and Sarah and Suther- 
land, who both died young. 

Samuel Blagg remained under the pa- 
rental roof until he was married, January 
12, 1846, to Miss Nancy Stickleman, who 
was born in Gallia county, Ohio, Septem- 
ber 8, 1822, a daughter of George and 
Nancy Stickleman. They began their do- 
mestic life upon a farm in Ohio, where they 
remained until 1856, and then came to 
Whiteside county, Illinois, locating in Erie. 
Here Mr. Blagg has been principally en- 
gaged in general farming and stock raising, 
and still owns a valuable and well improved 
farm of one hundred and ninety acres on 
section 18, Erie township, besides fifteen 
lots in the village of Erie. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Blagg were born eight 
children, namely: Filisteen, who died when 
quite young; Sarah V., who also died when 
quite young; Lucetta Jane, wife of William 
Stone, residing in Erie; Polly E., at home; 
Alice M., who died young; Hiram, a resi- 
dent of Erie; Grace D., wife of Charlie 
Adams, of Erie; and Elias Grant, also a 
resident of Erie. 

In his political views, Mr. Blagg is a 
Republican, but has never cared for the 
honors or emoluments of public office. He 
is widely and favorably known and justly 
merits the high regard in which he is held, 
for his life has been an honorable and up- 
right one. 



RALPH Y. BREED, a well-known grain 
dealer of Erie, is an important factor 
in business circles and his popularity is well 
deserved, as in him are embraced the char- 
acteristics of an unbending integrity, una- 
bated energy and industry that never flags. 
He is a leading business man of the village. 



and as a public-spirited citizen is thorough- 
ly interested in whatever tends to promote 
the moral, intellectual and material welfare 
of the community. 

A native of Illinois, Mr. Breed was born 
in Schuyler county, November 5, 1861, and 
is a son of Dr. S. P. and Alzina (Powers) 
Breed. In their family were seven children, 
but three are now deceased, those living 
being Lena May; Lizzie R. , wife of Edward 
Sisler, of Lincoln, Nebraska, Luella and 
Ralph Y. The parents are still Jiving and 
now make their home in Princeton, Illinois. 

During his boyhood and youth our sub- 
ject remained at home with his parents, 
and on the 25th of November, 1885, he was 
united in marriage with Miss Nellie M. Sapp, 
by whom he has three children, namely: 
Clifford, De Ette and Carrie Belle. Mr. 
Breed lived in Princeton until after his mar- 
riage and then located on a farm in Bureau 
county, near that city, where he engaged 
in farming and stock raising with marked 
success until the spring of 1896, when he 
removed to Erie. Here he purchased the 
grain business of Arthur McLean, and has 
since successfully carried on the same. He 
is an enterprising, wide-awake business 
man of known reliability, and is a progress- 
ive citizen. In politics he is a stanch Repub- 
lican, and before coming to this county held 
several township offices, while during his 
residence in Erie he has acceptably served 
as village trustee. Fraternally, he is a 
member of the Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. 



ANDREW RAPP. This gentleman 
worthily illustrates the commonly ac- 
cepted view of the character of the enter- 
prising German citizen, who has come to 



IriE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



507 



the United States empty haiifled, and 
through his own efforts has worked his way 
upward to a position of affluence, and has 
also pained the confidence and respect of 
all with whom he has been brought in con- 
tact. 

Mr. Rapp was born in Germany, Octo- 
ber II, 1846, and was reared and educated 
in his native land. When about twenty- 
one years of age he crossed the broad Atlan- 
tic, and on landing in New York came im- 
mediately to Illinois and located in Wash- 
ington, Tazewell county, where he was en- 
gaged in the butcher business for some 
time. On Christmas day, 1873, Mr. Rapp 
was united in marriage with Miss Theresa 
Hoffmeyer, a daughter of Joseph and 
Barbara Hoffmeyer. She was born in 
Switzerland, February 26, 1849, and came 
to America when twenty-four years of age. 
Two children have been born to our sub- 
ject and his wife, namely: Charles, born 
October 26, 1874; and Mamie, born Octo- 
ber 28, 1877. 

After his marriage, Mr. Rapp continued 
to engage in the butcher business in Wash- 
ington for a year and a half, and then re- 
moved to Roanoke, Illinois, where he was 
interested in the same line of trade for 
several years. It was in 1895 that he came 
to Whiteside county and purchased a valua- 
ble farm of three hundred and si.xty acres in 
Portland township, which he has placed 
under a high state of cultivation and made 
many improvements thereon. In the fall of 
1899, he removed to Erie but still devotes 
his time and attention to the operation of 
his farm. He has met with well deserved 
success in his labors, and is now one of the 
substantial and prosperous citizens of his 
adopted village. Although he is compara- 
tively a recent arrival in Whiteside county, 



he takes a great interest in its welfare, 
and is already recognized as a valued and 
useful citizen of the community in which he 
lives. His son Charles expects soon to em- 
bark in the meat business in Erie. 



JOHN H. MENSCH, a prominent farmer 
residing on section 10, Newton town- 
ship, Whiteside county, Illinois, was born 
in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, July 3, 
185S, and is a son of William and Anna C. 
Mensch. The father is still living and 
makes his home in Sterling, but the mother 
died May 9, 1893. They were the parents 
of sixteen children, of whom ten are still 
living, namely: Martin L. , a farmer of 
Oklahoma; William A., a farmer of this 
county; Eva, wife of Higgin Yates, of 
Omaha, Nebraska; John H., our subject; 
AUie A., wife of Milton Miller, a harness 
maker of Milledgeville, Illinois; Hattie, wife 
of R. Pittman, of Sterling; Jacob, a farmer 
of Kansas; Clarence, a farmer of Emerson, 
Whiteside county; Lora, wife of John 
Chalmers, a mechanic of Sterling; and Ida, 
wife of Caleb Shultz, in the produce busi- 
ness at Milledgeville. 

John H. Mensch remained under the 
parental roof until he attained his majority, 
and then started out in life for himself as a 
farmer in Hopkins township. On the 2ist 
of February, 1882, he was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Sarah Howell, by whom he 
had two children, Ada, born July i, 1884; 
and Lloyd, born September 1 1, 1888. The 
wife and mother died in October, 1894, and 
on the 4th of November, 1896, Mr. Mensch 
was again married, his second union being 
with Mrs. May Slininger, who was born 
February 29, 1868, a daughter of El wood 
and Rhoda Elliott. By the second mar- 



5o8 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



riage there is one child, Lora, born February 
28, 1897. Mrs. Mensch had two children 
by her former marriage, but only the 
younger is now living, Julia, who was born 
December 21, 1891. 

In 1893, Mr. Mensch purchased his pres- 
ent fine farm in Newton township, which 
comprises one hundred and sixty acres of 
rich and arable land, which he has placed 
under a high state of cultivation, and upon 
which he has made many improvements. 
He is successfully engaged in general farm- 
ing and stock raising, keeping on hand 
enough stock to consume all of the grain 
which he raises. He is an energetic and 
progressive farmer, and as a business man 
he generally carries forward to successful 
completion whatever he undertakes. He 
casts his ballot in support of the men and 
measures of the Republican party, and 
socially is a member of the Home Forum 
and is also a member of the Philadelphia 
Mutual Life. 



ISAAC GIBLER, a well-known citizen of 
Newton township, owns and operates a 
good farm of eighty-two acres on section 
10. As a judicious tiller of the soil he has 
met with success, and as a man and citizen 
holds a high position among his neighbors. 
He was born in Ohio, March 20, 1845, and 
is a son of Jeremiah and Mary (Nevitt) 
Gibler. The father was a native of Penn- 
sylvania, but when young went to Ohio, 
where he spent the greater part of his life 
engaged in farming. He died November 26, 
1 87 1. In his family v,'ere eleven children, 
namely: Amanda, deceased; Isaac, our 
subject; Christian A., a resident of Oregon; 
Amos and John, both deceased; James, a 
farmer of Newton township, this county; 



Disberry, deceased; Rhoda S. married L. 
E. Booth, a resident of Albany, Illinois; 
Elizabeth, wife of John Ray, of Albany; 
Joseph, a resident of Iowa; and Carrie, 
wife of Charles Natt, of Clinton, Iowa. 

The boyhood and youth of our subject 
were passed under the parental roof, and 
there he remained until he was married. 
May 21, 1874, to Miss Mary E. Switzer, 
who was born July 26, 1853, a daughter of 
Anthony I. and Martha Switzer. Her mother 
died December 25, 1898. Mr. and Mrs. 
Gibler have a family of eight children, 
whose names and dates of birth are as fol- 
lows: Leslie, March 8, 1875; Martha E. , 
January 4, 1877; Arthur, May 7, 1880; Car- 
rie Ann, February 10, 1883; Ralph, Octo- 
ber I, 1885; Edith, May 11, 1888; Row- 
land, February 28, 1892; and Glide, Feb- 
ruary 21, 1895. With the e.xception of 
Ralph, who died February 22, 1887, all are 
still living and reside athome. 

Afterhis marriage, Mr. Gibler commenced 
farming on his own account, and lived on 
several different farms until, in 1880, he 
purchased his present farm. He has always 
given more or less attention to stock rais- 
ing, and for several years operated a thresh- 
ing machine in connection with his regular 
farm work. In politics he is a pronounced 
Democrat and his support is given every 
measure which he believes will prove of 
public benefit. 



JOHN A. PACE, one of the active, 
prominent and enterprising citizens of 
Newton township, is engaged in agricultural 
pursuits on section 24, and in his farming 
operations is meeting with well-merited 
success. He is a native of Indiana, born 
November 25, 1855, and is a son of Michael 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



509 



and Penelope Pace. The father, who was 
also a farmer by occupation, died in Indi- 
ana in 1855. He was twice married, and 
by the first marriafje had two children, Na- 
than and Liicinda, and by the second four, 
namely: Jacob, now a farmer of Iowa; La- 
fayette, a farmer of Washington; Melinda, 
wife of Arthur Wood, a resident of Erie, 
Illinois; and John A., our subject. After 
the death of the father, the mother married 
S. N. Jones, and now lives in Iowa. 

The subject of this sketch remained with 
his mother until his marriage, which was 
celebrated November 30, 1880, Miss Lucy 
J. Lumbart, a daughter of Abraham and 
Charlotte Lumbart, becoming his wife. 
They began their domestic life on the farm 
of eighty acres on section 24, Newton town- 
ship, where they still continue to reside. 
Besides this property, Mr. Pace also owns 
one hundred and ninety-five acres on sec- 
tions 13 and 24, the same township, and in 
the cultivation and improvement of his land 
has met with marked success. He devotes 
considerable attention to stock raising, and 
in this branch of his business has also been 
successful. The Republican party has al- 
ways found in him a stanch supporter of its 
principles, and he has now capably tilled 
the office of school director for six years. 
Fraternally he is a member of the Modern 
Woodmen camp. No. 14, of Erie. He is 
well known and highly respected, and has a 
host of warm friends in his adopted county. 



RA. THOMPSON. Among the young 
men of Whiteside county who have 
selected agriculture as their vocation in life, 
and who, judging from present indications, 
are bound to realize their most sanguine 



anticipations, is the subject of this biograph- 
ical notice, who resides on section 34, Fen- 
ton township, where he owns and success- 
fully operates a valuable farm of four hun- 
dred and three acres. 

Mr. Thompson was born in that town- 
township, February 25, 1869, and is a son 
of S. A. Thompson, a sketch of whom is 
given elsewhere in this volume. He received 
good school privileges, attending first the 
common schools of Fenton and College 
Sterling, and later a college at Omaha, Ne- 
braska. On completing his education he 
was first engaged in mercantile business in 
Omaha, for one year, and then entered the 
fire department of that city, with which he 
was connected about two )'ears. On leav- 
ing Omaha, he returned to Whiteside coun- 
ty, and located on the farm where he now 
resides. In connection with general farm- 
ing he is engaged in stock raising, making 
a specialty of full-blooded Clyde horses and 
trotting stock, Durham cattle and Poland 
China hogs. His wife is interested in the 
fancy poultry business, raising buff cochins. 

In 1892, Mr. Thompson married Miss 
Anna Carrtenson, a daughter of Henry 
Carrtenson, of Erie, but she died about three 
months after their marriage, and he was 
again married, January i, 1895, his second 
union being with Miss Lenora McMurphy, 
a daughter of George McMurj^hy. Fra- 
ternally Mr. Thompson is a member of the 
Masonic order, the Knights of Pythias, and 
the Modern Woodmen of America. In 
politics he is independent, voting for whom 
he considers the best man for the office, but 
he has never taken any interest in local 
politics. He is held in high esteem by his 
neighbors and friends, and ranks among the 
leading agriculturists and most popular 
citizens of Fenton township. 



5IO 



THF BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



JOHN J. BESSE. In the busy com- 
munity located in the thriving little 
village of Erie we find several energetic and 
thorough-going business irren who have at- 
tained success through their own tact, good 
judgment and perseverance. Among this 
number is the gentleman whose name heads 
this biographical notice, and who, at pres- 
ent, is successfully engaged in business as a 
stock dealer. 

Mr. Besse was born in Portland town- 
ship, this county, October 35, 1850, a son 
of Randolph and Sarah Besse, of Portland 
township, this county. The father was 
born in New York state and throughout life 
has followed the occupation of farming. 
In the family were four children, of whom 
our subject is the oldest; Louisa is the wife 
of Frank Schmied, of Prophetstown; George 
W. is a farmer of Erie; and Anna Eliza is 
the wife of W. E. Baxter, of Erie. 

Our subject spent his boyhood and youth 
on the home farm. On the 15th of April, 
1874, he was united in marriage with Miss 
Ida E. Crandall, a daughter of Lafayette 
Crandall, and they had twochildren: Maud, 
who was born July 29, 1876, and died Au- 
gust 29, 1878; and Mabel, who was born 
September 20, 1883, and died the same 
year. The mother of these children died 
November 29, 1884, and for his second wife 
Mr. Besse married Miss Emma R. Schmied, 
who was born February 26, 1853, a daugh- 
ter of Jacob and Rachel Schmied. By this 
union three children have been born, name- 
ly: Goldie D., born June 12, 1887; Ran- 
dolphs., November 19, 1889; and John H., 
March i, 1893. 

Mr. Besse began his married life upon 
the old Arnet farm in Portland township, 
where he lived for four years, and then re- 
moved to the village of Erie, where he was 



engaged in the livery and furniture business 
for one year. The following year he en- 
gaged in farming, but at the end of that 
time he returned to Erie. He purchased 
two hundred acres of land in Erie township, 
upon which he lived for nine years while 
successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits. 
At the end of that period he moved to 
Prophetstown, where he carried on the 
butcher business for one year, and then re- 
turned to Erie, where he erected the pleas- 
ant residence which has since been his home. 
Besides his village property he also owns 
three hundred and fifty acres of land, which 
is under a high state of cultivation and well 
improved. Since 1891 he has successfully 
engaged in stock dealing. He is a business 
man of more than ordinary ability, and has- 
won success by his well-directed, energetic 
efforts, and the prosperity that has come to 
him is certainly well deserved. 

In his political affiliations, Mr. Besse is 
a Republican, and he has most creditably 
served his fellow citizens as road commis- 
sioner, a member of the village board for 
about si.x years, and school director for the 
same length of time. Socially he is quite 
popular and is an active and prominent 
member of the Knights of Pythias, the Mas- 
ter Masons, the Eastern Star, the Modern 
Woodmen of America, the Home Forum, 
Fraternity League and Mystic Workers of 
the World. 



WILLIAM H. ALLEN, a prominent 
and influential citizen of Erie, Illi- 
nois, was born in Dublin, New Hampshire, 
in 1839, and belongs to a most distinguished 
and honored family. His ancestors were 
among the followers of William the Con- 
queror, and settled in Lancaster and York- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



511 



shire, England. From this branch of the 
family the Stewarts of Scotland were de- 
scended. The Aliens, being Republicans, 
came to this country on the restoration of 
King Charles II to the throne of England, 
and settled in Massachusetts. Our subject's 
paternal grandfather, Ebenezer Allen, was 
a native of Lancaster, Worcester county, 
Massachusetts, and a son of Ebenezer Allen, 
Sr., who was also born in that place and 
served with distinction as a lieutenant in 
the Revoliitionary war. The father of the 
latter was for twenty years a member of the 
Massachusetts governing council, and dur- 
ing the Revolution he equipped a regiment 
with his own money, sending it out to fight 
for the liberty of the colonies. He did not 
command it himself, but all of his seven 
sons took an active part in the war, those 
being Ebenezer, Solomon, Elijah, Elisha, 
Amos, Peter and William. He was a 
cousin of Ethan Allen, of Revolutionary 
fame, who also had seven sons in the Con- 
tinental army. 

S. B. Allen, the father of our subject, 
was a native of New York, and a fanner by 
occupation. In early manhood he married 
Miss Sarah Richardson, who was born in 
Massachusetts, and was a daughter of Cap- 
tain Ebenezer. 

Our subject is the oldest in a family of 
three children. Samuel R. -Mien, his broth- 
er, is now a prominent attorney of Little 
Rock, Arkansas. He was at one time ad- 
jutant-general of that state and served in 
that capacity for a number of years. Sarah 
A., the only sister, resides in Whiteside 
county, Illinois. 

William H. Allen, of this review, was 
admitted to the bar in 1866, and has since 
been actively engaged in the practice of law, 
mostly in Rock Island and Whiteside coun- 



ties. For the last few years he has been a 
resident of Erie, is the only lawyer in the 
village, and is now serving as city attorney. 
He also owns and operates a fine farm of 
three hundred and thirty acres located partly 
in Erie, Newton and Fenton townships. 

In 1864, Mr. Allen was united in mar- 
riage with i\Iiss Mary A. Orr, and by this 
union seven children have been born, 
namely: William C, a lawyer of Moline, 
Illinois; Samuel R., a lawyer of Spokane, 
Washington; Sarah R., at home; Van S., a 
farmer of Erie township; Henry B. and 
Katharine B. , both at home; and John O. , 
who is studying law in Little Rock, Arkan- 
sas. 

Mr. Allen is not only a good lawyer, but 
is a man of excellent business and executive 
ability, whose sound judgment and unflag- 
ging enterprise and capable management 
have brought to him a well-merited success. 
He is a stanch supporter of the Democratic 
party and its principles as advocated by 
William J. Bryan, and served as supervisor 
of Erie from 1863 to 1878. In the latter 
year he was elected to the state Legisla- 
ture, and re-elected in 1880, serving in all 
two terms. Fraternally he is a member 
of the blue lodge. No. 667, F. & A. M., of 
Erie. 



ABEL BYAM is a valued and esteemed 
agriculturist residing on section 29, 
Fenton township, where he has a fine farm 
of two hundred acres, which is under excel- 
lent culture and well improved. The build- 
ings upon the place are of a neat and sub- 
stantial character, and a fine orchard and 
good fences all betoken thrift and prosper- 
ity. He has met with a merited success in 
his farming operations. 



512 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Mr. Byam was born in New Hampshire, 
March 7, 1S22, and is a son of Benjamin 
and Lucy (Fasset) Byam, and grandson of 
Reuben Byam. The father was also a na- 
tive of New Hampshire, where he continued 
to make his home throughout hfe, owning 
and operating a farm of seventy acres. In 
his family were seven children: Clarissa, 
widow of Otis Beamis and a resident of 
Massachusetts; Mary Ann, deceased wife of 
Aaron Jones, Abel, our subject; Benjamin, 
a retired farmer of New Hampshire; Nathan 
G., deceased; Leonard, a farmer of New 
Hampshire; and Charlie, a resident of Pitts- 
field, Massachusetts. 

Abel Byam is indebted to the common 
schools of his native state for his education- 
al advantages, and he remained at home 
until reaching manhood. In 1848 he mar- 
ried Miss Irena Brown, who was born Sep- 
tember 6, 1825, a daughter of Samuel and 
Louisa Brown. To Mr. and Mrs. Byam 
were born nine children, namely: Charles 
Owen, deceased; George, a resident of Erie, 
Illinois; Emma, wife of A. E. Hamilton, a 
lawyer of Harper county, Kansas; Mary 
Ann, deceased; Clara, Stephen D. and Za- 
die, all at home; Caroline. 

After his marriage, Mr. Byam came west 
and located first on a farm of eighty acres in 
Indiana, on which he lived for twenty years. 
In 1868 he came to Whiteside county, Illi- 
nois, and purchased a farm of sixty acres on 
sections 30 and 31, Fenton township. He 
has since added to his place until he now 
owns two hundred acres of rich and arable 
land. He has devoted his time and atten- 
tion to its impro'^ement and cultivation with 
most gratifying results, and has also success- 
fully engaged in stock raising. He is a sup- 
porter of the Republican party, but has 
never taken much interest in public affairs. 



and has never been an office seeker. His 
life has ever been such as to win for him 
the confidence and respect of those with 
whom he has been brought in contact, 
and he is numbered among the honored 
citizens of Fenton township. 



GEORGE NEER, one of the successful 
and prosperous citizens of Erie, Illi- 
nois, who is now living a retired life, was 
born in Logan county, Ohio, May 8, 1841, 
a son of Adam and Sarah (Pollock) Neer, 
and a grandson of Adam Neer, Sr. 
Throughout life the father followed the oc- 
cupation of farming and made his home in 
Logan county, Ohio, where he died Septem- 
ber 23, 1867. He was three times married, 
his first wife being Rachel Blair, by whom 
he had one child, Samuel, now deceased. 
His second wife was the mother of our sub- 
ject, and to them were born six children, 
but four died in infancy, the others being 
George, our subject, and Mrs. Rachel A. 
Brotherson, of Newton township, Whiteside 
county. For his third wife he married Jane 
Blair, and of the eight children born of this 
union, three died in infancy. Those living 
are Isaac, David, William and John, all 
residents of Ohio, and Addie, a resident of 
Indianapolis, Indiana. All three wives died 
in Ohio. 

Our subject remained on the home farm 
until nearly twenty-one years of age, and 
received his education in the common 
schools of his native state. During the 
Civil war, he enlisted in March, 1862, in the 
First Ohio Infantry, under General McCook, 
and was discharged in the fall of the same 
year. He then came west and took up his 
residence in Portland township, Whiteside 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



513 



county, Illinois, where he operated rented 
land for a time. 

On the 1 6th of September, 1863, Mr. 
Neer was united in marriage with Miss Har- 
riet Witt, who was born in McDonough 
county, Illinois, October 16, 1844, a 
daughter of Harvey and Hannah Witt. 
She was the youngest in a family of four 
children, the others being as follows: Geor- 
giana, deceased, was the wife of John Ran- 
son. George went to California in 1852, 
and ten years later sailed for Australia, 
since which time nothing has been heard of 
him. Horace died in infancy. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Neer have been born seven children: 
Sarah J., now the wife of Adam Young, Jr., 
of Erie township; Frank G., who married 
May Getty, and is engaged in farming in 
Vernon county, Missouri; Horace A., a resi- 
dent of Bureau county, Illinois, who mar- 
ried Gertrude Pratt, but she died Septem- 
ber 3, 1899; John D , who married Ada 
Imel and lives in Bureau county; Hannah 
L. , wife of Ira Talcott, a farmer of Port- 
land township, Whiteside county; and Will- 
iam and Hattie C, both at home with their 
parents. 

Mr. and Mrs. Neer began their domestic 
life upon a farm in Portland township, 
where they remained five years, and then 
moved to Erie. A year later they located 
on a farm of three hundred acres, which is 
partly situated in four different townships, 
but their residence was on section 6, Erie 
township. This valuable farm Mr. Neer 
owned and successfully operated for twenty- 
eight years, being engaged in general farm- 
ing and stock raising, but in February. 
1897, he removed to the town of Erie, 
where he is now living retired from active 
labor, enjoying a well-earned rest. The 
success that he has achieved in life is due to 



his own industry, enterprise and good man- 
agement, for on coming to the county he 
was in rather limited circumstances, but 
being a skillful farmer and a man of more 
than ordinary business ability, he has pros- 
pered. 

By his ballot Mr. Neer supports the men 
and measures of the Republican party, and 
he has been called upon to serve in a num- 
ber of local offices of honor and trust, being 
assessor of his township eleven years, high- 
way commissioner nine years, drainage com- 
missioner two terms, and school director 
twenty-one years, during which time a fine 
school-house was erected in his district in 
1896, at a cost of eight thousand dollars, it 
being heated with steam and supplied with 
all modern conveniences. Fraternally he is 
a member of Rock River camp. No. 14, M. 
W. A., and both he and his wife are mem- 
bers of the Christian church of Erie. They 
merit and receive the respect and esteem of 
all who know them and have a host of warm 
friends throughout the county. 



JAMES A. MEIGHAN. a well-known 
and highly respected citizen of Fenton 
township, has had a somewhat varied and 
interesting career, but is now quietly and 
successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits 
on section 19. He was born in the town of 
Fulton, Schoharie county. New York, No- 
vember 8, 1838, a son of John and .Anna 
(Vrooman) Meighan. The father was a 
native of Ireland, but when young came to 
this country, and for a number of years was 
engaged in the practice of law in Albany, 
New York. The Vrooman family was of 
Holland descent and was founded in New 
York state about 1812. 

Our subject was reared by his maternal 



514 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



grandfather, Adam P. Vrooman, who lived 
in Fulton until Mr. Meighan was seven 
years old and then removed to Orleans 
county, New York, where he owned and 
operated a farm. Our subject remained with 
his grandparents until si.xteen years of age, 
when he commenced life for himself by 
working at the blacksmith's trade. A year 
later he went to sea on a whaler and for a 
number of years was connected with differ- 
ent whaling e.xpeditions in the South Pacific 
ocean near New Zealand, the Friendly and 
Society Islands. There he met with several 
thrilling experiences such as men engaged 
in that business are likely to meet. 

On leaving the sea, Mr. Meighan went 
to Williamsport, Indiana, in September, 
1859, and while there cast his first presiden- 
tial vote for Abraham Lincoln. At the first 
call for troops at the opening of the Civil 
war, he entered the volunteer service, en- 
listing in the Tenth Indiana Infantry, and 
fought under Generals McClelian and Rose- 
crans in West Virginia. After being hon- 
orably discharged from the service, he fol- 
lowed railroading for one year, and then 
went to Chicago, where he joined the marine 
artillery service, with which he was con- 
nected for about a year. He served on sev- 
eral different boats and was in a number of 
hazardous expeditions. Later he was in the 
quartermaster's department for about six 
months, and was foreman on the docks at 
Beaufort, South Carolina. The war having 
ended he settled down to the more quiet 
pursuits of civil life and in the spring of 
1866 took up his residence in Whiteside 
county, Illinois. After working on a farm 
for about three years, he purchased one 
hundred and six acres on section 19, Fenton 
township, in 1869, and has since devoted his 
energies to the cultivation and improvement 



of his place. His specialty has been fruit 
raising, and he has upon his farm a fine, 
well-kept orchard of about ten acres. 

On the 7th of April, 1868, Mr. Meighan 
was united in marriage with Miss Eliza O. 
Dudley, who was born September 16, 1846, 
a daughter of William O. and Louisa Dud- 
ley. To them have been born six children, 
namely: Anna Francis, born June 15, 
1869, is at home; G. Emerson, born 
October 31, 1870, married Emma Snyder, 
by whom he has one child, Bernice, and 
they reside in Fenton; Charles Alfred, born 
June 6, 1873, is also a resident of Fenton; 
Jennie Ruth, born June 10, 1875, lives in 
Fenton township; Frederick D., born Febru- 
ary 19, 1880, died May 27, 1S81; and 
Nellie O.. born August 20, 188 1, is at home. 
The family hold membership in the Baptist 
church of Erie and stand high in the com- 
munity where they reside. Socially Mr. 
Meighan affiliates with the Masonic order, 
and politically is identified with the Repub- 
lican party, but takes no active part in 
political affairs aside from voting. 



HENRY HEIN is one of the most es- 
teemed citizens of Rock Falls and for 
many years he was prominently identified 
with the agricultural and business interests 
of the county. At present he is not active- 
ly engaged in business, but a good judge of 
human nature will observe in his manner 
the reserve force which indicates both abil- 
ity and energy. 

Mr. Hein was born in St. Louis, Missou- 
ri, April 21, 1859. His father, Frederick 
Hein, was a native of Germany, born in 
Holstein, in 1829, and there he was reared 
and learned the carpenter's trade. When 
a young man he crossed the Atlantic and 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



515 



settled in St. Louis, where he engaged in 
the furniture business for a few years. In 
that city he married Miss Amelia Feistle, 
a native of Sa.\ony, Germany, and to them 
were born the following children: Freder- 
ick, a farmer of Dunlap, Iowa; Henry, our 
subject; William, a farmer of Dunlap, 
Harrison count}', Iowa; and Matilda, wife 
of Frederick May, of Dunlap, Iowa. In 
1859 the family came to Whiteside 
county, Illinois, and the father pur- 
chased a farm of one hundred and sixty 
acres in Montmorency township, to which 
he added until he had five hundred acres. 
After operating his farm for some years 
he rented it and moved to Sterling, where 
he bought a residence property and lived 
retired until his death. He died July 8, 
1895, at the age of si.xty-si.x years, but his 
wife is still living at the old homestead on 
Fourth avenue. Sterling, between Third and 
Fourth streets. 

On the home farm Henry Hein passed 
his boyhood and youth, obtaining his edu- 
cation in the district schools of the neigh- 
borhood, and also acejuiring an e.Ncellent 
knowledge of every department of farm 
work. On the 17th of October, 1882. he 
led to the marriage altar Miss Carolina Mil- 
ler, who was born, reared and educated in 
this county. Her father, William Miller, 
was one of the early settlers of Jordan town- 
ship, but who removed from that township 
to Montmorency township, where he lived 
twenty-two years. He is now living re- 
tired in Rock Falls. Our subject and his 
wife have two children, Le Roy J. and 
Harry W^, who are attending the home 
schools. 

After his marriage, Mr. Hein purchased 
a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in 
Montrnorency township, and at different 



times added to it until he had three hun- 
dred and twenty acres, which he placed 
under a high state of cultivation and sup- 
plied with all modern improvements. He 
erected thereon a good set of farm build- 
ings, including a pleasant residence, and in 
connection with the operation of his own 
land he cultivated rented tracts, the entire 
amount aggregating eight hundred acres. 
He was one of the most successful farmers 
and stock raisers of the county. He now 
rents his farm, which is well stocked with a 
good grade of horses, cattle and hogs, in 
which he owns a half interest. In 1893 he 
moved to Rock Falls, where he purchased 
a lot on Sixth avenue and erected a com- 
modious and pleasant residence in modern 
style of architecture — one of the best in the 
city. While living here he has engaged in 
the stock, hay and grain business, but is 
now practically living retired. 

The Democratic party finds in Mr. Hein 
a stanch supporter of its principles, but at 
local elections he endeavors to vote for the 
best man, regardless of party lines. He 
has never sought or desired official honors, 
though he served as a member of the school 
board for some years. Religiously he and 
his wife are members of the English Lu- 
theran church of Sterling, and socially he 
belongs to the Odd Fellows lodge of Rock 
Falls, in which he has filled some of the 
chairs, and both he and his wife have taken 
the Rebekah degrees. Almost his entire life 
has been passed in this county, and he has 
proved a valued and useful citizen. He 
has championed every movement designed 
to promote the general welfare, has sup- 
ported every enterprise for the public good, 
and has materially aided in the advance- 
ment of all social, educational and moral 
interests. 



5i6 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



JAMES C. HUBBARD.deceased, through 
years of his identification with White- 
side county enjoyed the highest respect of 
his fellow citizens by reason of his strict in- 
tegrity and sterling worth. He was born 
in New York state, October 12, 1822, but 
in early life came to Whiteside county, 
Illinois, with his parents, with whom he re- 
mained until after their deaths. He then 
took up the carpenter's trade, at which he 
worked until his marriage. 

On the 14th of October, 1853, Mr. Hub- 
bard married Miss Maria L. Putney, who was 
born in North Adams, Massachusetts, 
October 1834, a daughter of Arthyr and 
Lucinda Putney, and a granddaughter of 
Joseph and Jemima Putney. She was one 
of a family of three children, of whom one 
died in infancy, and the other, Louisa, died 
at the age of seven years. To our subject 
and his wife were also born three children, 
namely: Maria I.; Lula L. . wife of Will- 
iam H. James, a farmer of Fenton town- 
ship; and James P., a farmer of Erie town- 
ship. 

After his marriage, Mr. Hubbard turned 
his attention to agricultural pursuits, and 
successfully operated a line farm of three 
hundred and ninety-seven acres in Erie 
township, which land had been entered from 
the government l)y Mrs. Hubbard's father 
and is now in her possession. Mr. Hub- 
bard did not confine his attention alone to 
farming, for at different times he was in- 
terested in a number of other enterprises. 
He built the steam gristmill now owned by 
Mr. Pierce and also built and conducted the 
creamery which he afterward sold to Mr. 
Mason. For a number of years he was also 
engaged in mercantile business in Erie, and 
in all his undertakings he met with fair suc- 
cess, being a man of good business ability 



and sound judgment. Throughout the 
greater part of his life he was a supporter of 
the Democratic party, but during his last 
years voted the Prohibition ticket, and he 
was called upon to fill several local offices. 
He was a consistent and earnest member of 
the Baptist church and died in that faith, 
May 18, 1886. In the spring of 1893, Mrs. 
Hubbard removed to Erie, where she erected 
a good modern residence, and here sur- 
rounded by a large circle of friends and 
acquaintances she expects to spend her re- 
maining days. 



ROBERT DAIL, a thrifty, well-to-do 
farmer, residing on section 15, Port- 
land township. Spring Hill, is a typical rep- 
resentative of the self-educated, and self- 
made, men of Whiteside county. A native 
of the Emerald Isle, he was born June 13, 
1843, at Adengosh, Monaghan county, a son 
of Nathaniel and Jane (McNeil) Dail. 

Nathaniel Dail spent his early life in 
Monaghan county, living there until after 
the birth of his three sons. In 1851, dis- 
posing of his farm, he emigrated with his 
family to the New World, hoping in this 
land of plenty to better his financial condi- 
tion. Boarding a sailing vessel, the Charles 
Chanler, at Liverpool, England, he was six 
weeks on the Atlantic before arriving at 
New Orleans, from whence he sailed up the 
river to Albany, Whiteside county. This 
journey was saddened by the death of his 
faithful wife at St. Louis. Coming directly 
to Portland township, he bought eighty 
acres of land on Spring Hill, on which he 
was actively engaged in agricultural pursuits 
until his death. His sons, all of them farm- 
ers in Portland township, are as follows: 
Nathaniel, who served in the late Civil war; 



Till-: HIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



517 



Robert, the subject of this brief sketch; and 
John. 

Robert Dail, a hid of scarce nine years 
when he came to this county, motherless, 
lived with an uncle for four or five years 
thereafter, and then began earning his own 
living in earnest, working by the month as 
a farm hand. A hard-working, industrious 
lad, prudent and economical, he saved his 
wages and in course of time bought forty 
acres of land from his father. The Civil 
war was then in progress, and on May 8, 
1864, he enlisted for one hundred days in 
Company B, One Hundred and Fortieth 
Illinois Volunteer Infantry, which started 
from Springfield to join the Army of the 
Tennessee. He did duty along the lines of 
the Memphis & Charleston Railway, guard- 
ing transportation for nearly si.x months 
after his term of enlistment expired, when, 
on Oc;tober 19, 1864, he was honorably dis- 
charged from the service, in Chicago. Re- 
turning home, Mr. Dail resumed work on 
his small farm, and within two years had 
erected a snug little house in which he and 
his bride set up housekeeping, he being tired 
of boarding. From time to time he has 
added to his landed possessions, so that he 
now owns and operates one hundred and 
sixty acres of well-improved land, carrying 
on mixed husbandry with most gratifying 
results. The cozy house has been enlarged, 
and a substantial barn and good outbuild- 
ing erected; his farming implements are of 
the most approved pattern; and everything 
is in keeping with the appliances of a first- 
class agriculturist. For almost half a cen- 
tury he has lived in this town and county, 
and has ably assisted in the development of 
this fertile and productive agricultural re- 
gion; since his boyhood days the wild beasts 
have fled before the advancing steps of civ- 



ilization; and the small hamlets that dotted 
this part of Illinois have grown into prosper- 
ous towns and villages under his observa- 
tion, a change that he has watched with 
pleasure, and while lending his aid to im- 
portant movements in that direction has at 
the same time been enabled to accumulate 
a modest competence for himself. 

Mr. Dail was married, July 4, 1S66, to 
Miss Elizabeth McNeill, who was born in 
Ireland, in 1844, and came to Illinois with 
her parents when a child. Seven children 
have been born of their union, as follows: 
Tremayne, who is married, lives at Walnut, 
Illinois; Bertha; Florence, wife of Edward 
Pomeroy, of Colona, Henry county, has one 
child, Lillian; Lillie; William, who is mar- 
ried, assists in the management of the home 
farm; and Robert Dail, Js. , whose wedded 
life has been saddened by the death of a 
son, Derwold I)., who lived hut eighteen 
months. Politically Mr. Dail is a sound 
Republican, having been a supporter of its 
principles since casting his first presidential 
vote, in 1864, for Abraham Lincoln. He 
has never sought public office, preferring to 
devote his attention to his private interests, 
but he has served as a member of the school 
board several years. 



EM. PECKHAM, an energetic and en- 
terprising farmar residing on section 
24, Erie township, Whiteside county, Illi- 
nois, was born August 14, 1856, in Rome, 
Oneida county. New York, and is a son of 
William H. and Melvina M. (Miller) Peck- 
ham, also natives of New York, as was the 
grandfather, William Peckham. For some 
years the father was engaged in the lumber 
business in Rome, but his last days were 
spent at Vienna, New York, where he died 



5i8 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



December 20, 1882. The mother is still 
living and now makes her home in Syracuse, 
New York. Twelve children were born to 
them, namely: Achsah L., widow of C. H. 
Reed and a resident of Iowa; Emma, wife 
of Frank Baker, a carpenter of Taberg, 
New York; two who died in infancy; Will- 
iam C, a resident of Prophetstown, Illinois; 
Wells R., who died in the service of his 
country during the Civil war; Mary, who 
died in New York; George W., a resident of 
Taberg; Alfred, a harness maker of Erie 
township, Whiteside county; E. M., our 
subject; Frank, a worker in brass at Boston. 
Massachusetts; and Cora, wife of E. G. 
Halstead, a merchant of Syracuse, New 
York. 

Mr. Peckham, whose nam 2 introduces 
this sketch, remained at home until his 
marriage with the exception of one year 
spent in the west. On his return to New 
York, he was married, November 22, 1882, 
to Miss Nettie M. Abel, a daughter of Will- 
iam P. and Maria Abel, of Vienna, New 
York, and by this union one child was born, 
Daisy R., who was born February 17, 1884, 
and is at present attending college in Fulton, 
Illinois. 

For about two years after his marriage, 
Mr. Peckham remained in New York, en- 
gaging in farming, and in 1884 came to 
Whiteside county, Illinois, locating first in 
Prophetstown township where he rented a 
farm and remained there one year. He 
then purchased one hundred and one acres 
on section 24, Erie township, and its culti- 
vation and improvement he has since de- 
voted his energies. He has erected thereon 
a large modern residence, and has made 
many other improvements which add to the 
beauty and value of the place. He carries 
on general farming and stock raising, and 



in his undertakings has met with well de- 
served success. In politics he is an ardent 
Republican, and he has held the office of 
highway commissioner, since the spring of 
1887, and has been treasurer of the board 
for ten years. Fraternally he belongs to 
Rock River camp. No. 14, N. W. A., and 
of Acorn lodge. No. 317, K. P., of Erie, 
while religiously his estimable wife is a 
member of the Methodist Episcopal church 
of that place. 



ALLEN E. PARMENTER, junior mem- 
ber of the firm of Parmenter Brothers, 
general merchants of Lyndon, and the pres- 
ent supervisor from that town, is one of the 
most energetic, enterprising and successful 
business men of that part of the county. 
He is a native of Illinois, born in Rock 
Island county, December 20, 1853, and is a 
son of John G. Parmenter, who for many 
years successfully followed farming in that 
county, but spent the last fifteen j^ears of 
his life in retirement from active labor. He 
was born in New York, December 14, 1831, 
and died in Lyndon, Illinois, in February, 
1 89 1, having come to this county in 1890. 
He married Harriet Waite, a native of In- 
diana, and now a resident of Lyndon. 
To them were born the following children: 
George H. and Allen E., who compose the 
firm of Parmenter Brothers; Sophia, who 
married A. M. Bruner and died in Nebraska; 
Frank B., who is district secretary of the 
Young Men's Christian Association at Rock 
Island, which position his father had previ- 
ously filled; and Charles W. , who was serv- 
ing as postmaster of Lyndon at the time 
of his death, which occurred in January, 

1893- 

George H. Parmenter, the oldest son. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



5'9 



was born in Rock Island county, March 30, 
1852, and in the public schools of that 
■ county acquired his education. He remained 
at home until his marriage and followed 
agricultural pursuits until his removal to Lyn- 
don. In December, 1875, he married Miss 
Amanda J. DeBord, a native of Illinois and 
a daughter of Elijah and Susan (Collins) 
DeBord, who were born in Kentucky. She 
is one of a large family, of whom four others 
are still living, namely: Samuel and Will- 
iam, residents of Kirmhan, Shelby county, 
Iowa; John, who lives with his parents at 
Harlan, the same county; and Ann, wife of 
Gilbert Clark, of Randolph, Iowa. Of the 
five children born to Mr. and Mrs. Permen- 
ter, one died in infancy, and the others are 
Drucilla, Elsie, Susie and Helen. In Octo- 
ber, 1882, he removed to Lyndon, and pur- 
chased an interest in the general store owned 
by his brother, Allen E. Parmenter, and his 
brother-in-law, A. M. Bruner. They car- 
ried on business at first under the firm name 
of Parmenter & Bruner, but since the with- 
drawal of Mr. Bruner the name has been 
changed to Parmenter Brothers. Prior to 
August, 1898, they owned two stocks of 
goods, but during that month the business 
was consolidated, and they now have the 
leading store of the kind in the place. They 
carry a large and complete assortment of 
drygoods, giroceries, boots, shoes, etc., in fact 
everything found in a first-class general 
store, and enjoy an e.xcellent trade. They also 
own a fine farm of one hundred and sixty 
acres in Rock Island county, and are exten- 
sively interested in the poultry business, 
dressing and shipping fowls to the city 
markets, and employing from twelve to fif- 
teen men in this way during the best sea- 
son. They also have a branch house in 
Reynolds, Illinois. 



Allen E. Parmenter was also reared and 
educated in Rock Island county, and spent 
his early life under the parental roof. On 
coming to Whiteside county, in 1880, he 
embarked in mercantile business at Lyndon 
in partnership with Mr. Bruner as previous- 
ly stated, and has since been one of the 
leading business men of the place. He was 
united in marriage with Miss Mary E. Smith, 
and to them have been born three children: 
Sophia, Hattie and Elbert. 

Socially the brothers are members of the 
Modern Woodmen camp. No. 72, of Lyn- 
don, and the Mystic Workers of the World, 
No. 41, and politically are identified with 
the Republican party. George H. has 
served as school director three terms, and 
is now a member of the village board, in 
which he is serving on the finance commit- 
tee. In 1897, Allen A. was elected super- 
visor and so acceptably did he fill that office, 
that he was re-elected two years later by a 
large majority, being the present incumbent 
in that office, the duties of which he has 
most capably discharged. He is chairman 
of the printing committee, and a member of 
the equalization and educational commit- 
tees. 



WILLIAM AUGUST HEIN, a prom- 
inent and successful farmer residing 
on section 20, Hahnaman township, is a na- 
tive of Illinois, born in Kendall county, 
February 15, 1857. His father, Jacob Hein, 
was born, reared and educated in Germany, 
and on his emigration to the new world in 
184 , located in Kendall county, Illinois, 
where he married Christina Crumm, also a 
native of Germany, who came to this coun- 
try when a young lady. In 1859 they re- 
moved to Whiteside county, the father hav- 



520 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ing previously purchased a farm on section 
19, Hahnaman township, and to its cultiva- 
tion and improvement he devoted his ener- 
gies throughout the remainder of his active 
business life. He owned two hundred acres 
of very valuable and productive land, and 
upon that place he died in February, 1893. 
His first wife, who was the mother of our 
subject, died May i, 1S60, and he later 
married again. 

Upon the home farm William A. Hein 
grew to manhood, and attended the district 
schools of the neighborhood. He continued 
to assist his father in the labors of the fields 
jntil he attained his majority, and then 
rented a place with his brother Jacob, who 
now owns and operates the old home farm. 
Our subject has met with well-deserved suc- 
cess in his lifevvork and now owns a fine 
farm of one hundred and si.xty acres on sec- 
tion 20, Hahnaman township, upon which 
he has made many useful and valuable im- 
provements, in the way of buildings. He 
also owns forty acres in Tampico township, 
and is successfully engaged in general farm- 
ing and stock raising. 

Mr. Hein was married in Tampico town- 
ship, March 31, 1S92, to Miss Liva M. 
Cain, who was born in Bureau county, Illi- 
nois, but was reared and educated in White- 
side county. She is a graduate of the Tam- 
pico high school, and for five years prior to 
her marriage successfully engaged in teach- 
ing, the last year as teacher in the schools 
of Tampico. Her father was Eli Cain, a 
prominent farmer of this county. Our sub- 
ject and his wife have two children: Mary 
R. and Mason A. 

Since casting his first presidential vote 
for James A. Garfield, Mr. Hein has been a 
stanch supporter of the Republican party, 
has served as a delegate to county conven- 



tions of his party, and is now committee- 
man of his township. He has also filled 
the offices of township clerk and constable 
in a most commendable manner. Socially 
he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of 
America, and the Masonic fraternity, and 
both he and his wife are connected with the 
Eastern Star and Royal Neighbors, while 
she also belongs to the Methodist Episcopal 
church of Tampico. 



WILLIAM D. SLAYMAKER. a promi- 
nent farmer residing on section 32. 
Garden Plains township, Whiteside coun- 
ty, Illinois, was born in Pennsylvania, Jan- 
uary 28, 1839, and is a son of James H.and 
Jane E. (Mcllvain) Slaymaker, and a grand- 
son of Captain John Slaymaker. The 
father was also a native of the Keystone 
state, and there he engaged in hotel keep- 
ing throughout the greater part of his life. 
In his family were eight children, namely: 
John S., a farmer of Harvey county, Kansas; 
Thomas A., a hardware merchant of Pea- 
body, Kansas; R. M., a farmer living near 
that place; James H., deceased; William D., 
our subject; Anna M., also a resident of 
Peabody, Kansas; Elizabeth J., deceased; 
and Sarah ]., who died in infancy. 

In his native state William D. Slaymak- 
er passed his early life. On first coming 
to Whiteside county, Illinois, in 1S51, he 
located in Newton township, where he 
made his home for some time. He was 
married, March 3, 1870, to Miss Martha A. 
Curry, who was born in Allegheny county, 
Pennsylvania, December 18, 1845, a daugh- 
ter of Joseph and Anna Curry, farming peo- 
ple. By this union five children were born, 
as follows: John C, a farmer of Garden 
Plains township; William M., who is now 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



521 



with his parents, but intends, in the spring 
of 1900, to move to Iowa, where he has pur- 
chased a farm; and Alvin B., Samuel L. 
and Lizzie Jane, ail at home. 

After his marriage, Mr. Slaymaker locat- 
ed on a farm of eighty-two acres in Garden 
Plains township, and after residing there for 
twelve years traded the place for his present 
fine farm of one hundred and twenty acres 
on section 32, the same township. Here 
he is now successfully engaged in general 
farming and stock raising; also keeps fifteen 
milch cows for dairy purposes; and devotes 
considerable attention to the raising of 
poultry. He is an enterprising and ener- 
getic farmer and the success that has come 
to him is certainly well-merited. In his po- 
litical views he is a Democrat, and he has 
been called upon to fill the office of school 
director. Socially, he holds membership in 
the Modern Woodmen camp at Albany, and 
religiously both he and his wife are earnest 
and consistent members of the Presbyterian 
church of Newton township. 



HENRY E. JENKS, an agriculturist of 
energy and ability, residing on section 
7, Fenton township, where he owns and 
operates eighty acres of highly cultivated 
land, was born in Essex county, New York, 
May 18, 1844, a son of Warren and Free- 
love (Potter) Jenks. The father was born 
in New York, February 7, 1805, a son of 
Edmund and Sarah Jenks and grandson of 
James Jenks. His parents were natives of 
Vermont, and in 1S04 moved from that 
state to New York. By occupation Ed- 
mund Jenks was a farmer. Our subject's 
father remained in the Empire state until 
1854, which year witnessed his arrival in 
Whitesidecounty, Illinois. He purchased the 

30 



farm of eighty acres on section 7, Fenton 
township, where our subject now resides, 
and throughout his active business life fol- 
lowed farming. He is still living at the ad- 
vanced age of ninety-four years, is hale and 
hearty and possesses an excellent memory. 
On the 2 1st of October, 1830, he married 
Miss Freelove Potter, who was born in 
Rhode Island, May 12, 1806, a daughter of 
Anthony Potter, and died February 28, 
1SS6. To them were born six children, 
namely: Merrill, Austin, Martin, Martha, 
George and Henry. Of these Merrill and 
George died in infancy; Martha died at the 
age of eighteen years; and the others are 1 
still living. 

Henry E. Jenks, our subject, was reared 
on the home farm and educated in the 
district schools of the neighborhood. He 
never left the parental roof and since reach- 
ing manhood has engaged in the operation 
of the home farm, his entire time and at- 
tention being devoted to general farming. 

On the 4th of July, 1867, Mr. Jenks led 
to the marriage altar Miss Elizabeth Norton, 
who was born in Huntingshire, England, 
December 28, 1843, and in November, 
1 85 1, came to the United States with her 
parents, John and Sarah Norton. Her 
mother was taken ill while crossing the 
Atlantic, and died in New York city, No- 
vember 12, 1 85 1. From New York, the 
family proceeded to Cincinnati, Ohio, where 
they made their home for three years. 
There her father married Miss Ellen Dobson. 
In 1854, with his family, he came to White- 
side county, Illinois, and located in Union 
Grove township, where his death occurred 
May 27, 1870. In that township, Mrs. 
Jenks grew to womanhood, receiving her 
education in the district schools. At the 
age of sixteen, she commenced teaching. 



^22 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



and taught the first school that was organ- 
ized in the Bunker Hill district, in Union 
Grove township. She afterwards attended 
the high school in Fulton, Illinois, and 
taught six years in the schools of Fenton 
and Newton townships. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Jenks have been born 
seven children, namely: Sarah Martha, 
born May 25, 1S69, is now the wife of \V. 
H. Davis, of Oregon; Jennie Edith, born 
April II, 1872, is engaged in teaching 
school in Newton township, this county, 
and resides at home; Lauretta E., born 
August 7, 1877, an^ Mary Inez, born August 



29, 18S0, are attending school in Wheaton, 
Illinois; Charles E. , born February 13, 1883, 
died January 14, 1885; Herman H., born 
October 31, 1884, and Ira J., born Decem- 
ber 6, 1886, are both at home. 

Formerly Mr. Jenks affiliated with the 
Republican party, but being a strong tem- 
perance man he now supports the Prohi- 
bition party, and does all in his power to 
advance the moral and material welfare of 
his township and county. He and his wife 
are consistent and faithful members of the 
United Brethren church, and take an active 
part in all church work. 




